* Co-expression of CD44+/RANKL+ tumor cells in the carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
- Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa (RANK)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) signaling helps putative cancer stem cells (CSC) to maintain their stemness. Expression of CD44 and RANKL was analyzed in oral squamous cell carcinoma specimen (n = 191). Moreover, RANKL expression was measured in cancer cell lines (BICR3, BICR56) by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Scanned images were digitally analyzed using ImageJ and the immunomembrane plug-in. CD44 and RANKL expression on protein level was correlated with clinical characteristics and impact on survival. RANKL was co-labeled with CD44 in immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence double labeling experiments. Although high CD44+/RANKL+ co-expression was significantly associated with clinicopathological factors and worse survival, multivariate analysis did not demonstrate high CD44+/RANKL+ co-expression as independent prognostic factor. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence double labeling experiments revealed RANKL expression by CD44+ cancer cells. RANKL specificity was confirmed by western blot analysis. For the first time, this study provides evidence that RANKL expression in OSCC might be associated with disease recurrence and a cell compartment measured by CD44+/RANKL+ co-expression within the mucosal epithelial basal layer cells.
Overview of noun cell
The noun cell has 7 senses (first 3 from tagged texts)
1. (71) cell -- (any small compartment; "the cells of a honeycomb")
2. (44) cell -- ((biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist
as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and
animals)
3. (1) cell, electric cell -- (a device that delivers an electric current as the result of a
chemical reaction)
4. cell, cadre -- (a small unit serving as part of or as the nucleus of a larger political movement)
5. cellular telephone, cellular phone, cellphone, cell, mobile phone -- (a hand-held mobile
radiotelephone for use in an area divided into small sections, each with its own short-range
transmitter/receiver)
6. cell, cubicle -- (small room in which a monk or nun lives)
7. cell, jail cell, prison cell -- (a room where a prisoner is kept)
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