Abstract
CONTEXT: Caveolin-1 is a surface protein that is a major structural component of caveolae, which are vesicles of the plasma membrane integral to a variety of signal transduction molecules and transport functions. Caveolin-1 is a biomarker undergoing research & studies have shown an increased expression of Cav-1 in the stepwise carcinogenesis from the normal oral mucosa, hyperplastic mucosa, dysplastic mucosa, precancerous lesions to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. In the present study Correlation between Caveolin-1 expression and grade of tumor was established statistically. AIMS: To study immunohistochemical expression of Caveolin-1 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross sectional study carried out in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 cases of histopathologically diagnosed oral squamous cell carcinoma was evaluated. Grading of the cases into well, moderate and poorly differentiated carcinomas was done as per WHO guidelines . Margin and lymph node status were evaluated. Anti- Caveolin-1 antibody (E249)- Caveolae marker ab32577 was used in the dilution of 1:100. Results were expressed taking reference of the methodology used by Hung et al 2003. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 25.0). RESULTS: Correlation of tumor grade and lymph node metastasis was statistically significant p=0.0006. There was a significant statistical correlation between tumor grade and immunohistochemical expression of Caveolin-1, p- value=0.00. Correlation between Lymph node metastasis and Caveolin-1 was statistically significant, p-value=0.008. CONCLUSIONS: Caveolin-1 expression correlates with aggressive tumor behavior and poor prognostic outcome.