Expression of beta adrenergic receptor in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its significance to the prognosis

The aim of this study was to detect the expression of beta-AR (Beta Adregenic Receptor) in Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), para-cancerous and normal oral mucosa and to investigate the relationship between the expression intensity and the characteristics and prognosis of oral cancer. 100 cases of OSCC were collected; 20 cases of paraneoplastic tissues and 10 cases of normal oral mucosa were taken as control. The expression of beta-AR was detected by immunohistochemical method and the average optical density determination using Image J software. Finally, the difference of beta-AR expression and the correlation with the clinicopathological factors were analyzed statistically. The expression of beta-AR in OSCC was higher than that in paracarcinoma and normal mucosa (P<0.01). The expression intensity of beta 1, beta 2-AR in preoperative lymph node metastasis group was higher than that in patients without lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). The expression intensity of beta 3-AR was not related to pathological grade and tumor size (P>0.05). beta 1 and beta 2-AR in early stage of OSCC were higher than those in early stage (P<0.05). Lymph node metastasis, recurrence, TNM clinical stage, and the expression intensity of beta 1-AR all had an effect on the cumulative survival rate. All the beta 1, 2, 3-AR were expressed in OSCC. beta 1 and beta 2-AR were involved in lymphatic metastasis and had influence on clinical staging. Metastasis, recurrence, TNM stage and expression of beta 1-AR had an effect on the cumulative survival rate of tumor. The expression of beta 3-AR in OSCC was not associated with the pathological grades and tumor growth.