Enhanced expression of MerTK is linked to oral squamous cell carcinoma invasion and clearance of degenerated cancer cells | ||
| Egyptian Dental Journal | ||
| Volume 71, Issue 2 - Serial Number 3, April 2025, Pages 1323-1331 PDF (6.6 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/edj.2025.344478.3308 | ||
| Author | ||
| Ahmed Essa* | ||
| Oral Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The rank for squamous cell carcinoma affecting oral cavity (OSCC) is six worldwide; presenting limited therapy options and low rate of survival (5 years). Macrophages that are accompanying tumors (TAMs) are implicated in progression of cancer by dampening the response of immune reaction. Activation of TAMs receptor, designated as tyrosine-protein kinase Mer (MerTK), in cells of myeloid lineage promotes progression of cancer by suppressing immune reactions. To date not much information is analyzed and interpreted about the role of MerTK in OSCC. We carried the existing study to investigate MerTK immunohistochemical expression in OSCC as well as in carcinoma in situ (CIS) and correlate the expression to OSCC invasion. For this research, 93 archival previously diagnosed OSCC paraffin blocks were retrieved and immunohistochemistry was performed for MerTK, CD31, and HLA-DR. No MerTK expression was seen in normal epithelia, small number of MerTK + cells were seen beneath CIS revealing noticeable physical contact with overlying basement membrane whereas in OSCC different grades there are significant amount of apparent variance of MerTK expression from well differentiated to poorly differentiated. Enhanced MerTK expression was noticed from CIS to OSCC which might be associated with proliferation, migration and invasion, therefore MerTK might be considered as a possible target for OSCC therapy. Furthermore, it enabled scavenging of degenerated OSCC cells by macrophages. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| MerTK; OSCC; Invasion; Stroma; Scavenging | ||
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