Relative expression of PTTG and bFGF in oral squamous cell carcinoma and Tca8113

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and tongue cancer cell line Tca8113, as well as their effects on each other. We detected PTTG protein and bFGF in OSCC tissues from 56 cases using the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase (S-P) method; additionally, after being treated with different concentrations of anti bFGF or PTTG antibody, PTTG or bFGF expression in Tca8113 was examined by immunocytochemistry. The results were as follows: (1) Positive rates of PTTG protein and bFGF were 78.2% and 67.3% in OSCC, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in normal mucosal tissues (P<0.05). PTTG protein was significantly up-regulated in poorly and moderately differentiated tumors compared to well differentiated tumors (P<0.05), and there was also a significant difference between tumors with lymph node metastasis and tumors without lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). PTTG protein expression was positively correlated with bFGF (r = 0.382, P<0.05); (2) PTTG protein emitted strong fluorescence in Tca8113, and it decreased after being treated with anti-bFGF antibody. Anti-PTTG antibody also had an inhibitive effect on bFGF expression. In summary, the overexpression of PTTG protein is closely related with OSCC differentiation and lymph node metastasis. PTTG protein expression conforms to bFGF in OSCC tissues and Tca8113 cells. Detection of both PTTG and bFGF may help to judge the degree of malignancy and prognosis of patients with OSCC.

Keywords

carcinoma, squamous cell / pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) protein / basic fibroblast growth factor