The expression of transglutaminase 2 (TG-2) in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance

Background: Glutamine has a very important role in the human body, including pH balance in an acidic environment, as well as supporting the TCA cycle in cancer cell growth. However, the expression of transglutaminase-2 (TG-2) in oral cancer growth related to renal function is unknown. Here we examined TG-2 and its expression as a prognostic tool. Methods: Fifty-six oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissues were collected with the inclusion of tumor in any region of oral area, and patients with creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) results. The tissues were stained using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a TG-2 antibody [N3C3], then observed under the microscope. The staining were calculated using Adobe Photoshop CS software and statistical analyses using SPSS ver. 21. Results: We found that TG-2 expression showed a significant difference in the expression levels between tumor and the adjacent groups without disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and recurrence between, with p < 0.05. The average staining intensity with 25th percentile of TG 2 becomes a vital score for the diagnosis. Furthermore, our study demonstrates a good prognosis outcome if the intensity score showed a difference in TG-2 expression between the adjacent and tumor tissue. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first clinical study on TG-2 expression in OSCC, and it demonstrates that TG-2 can serve as a predictor of tumorigenesis and prognosis outcome. Copyright (C) 2017, the Chinese Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.