LAMP3 (CD208) Expression in Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Epithelial Dysplasia of the Oral Cavity and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Unfavorable Prognosis

Background: This study aimed to evaluate LAMP3 (CD208) gene expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and dysplastic oral epithelium by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and compare LAMP3 expression in different disease grades and stages. Methods: In this study, 60 OSCC and dysplastic oral epithelium samples were obtained from the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences together with their demographic and clinicopathological documents. LAMP3 expression was measured by qPCR. Results: LAMP3 expression was significantly greater in OSCC than in dysplasia samples (P=0.001), in grade III OSCC than in grades I and II, and also greater in advanced than in early OSCC disease stage (P=0.001). Conclusions: The significantly greater LAMP3 expression in OSCC than in dysplastic epithelium indicates a role for LAMP3 in carcinogenesis in oral mucosa. Our results suggest LAMP3 may be useful as an anticancer target and/or to predict disease pathogenesis in OSCC patient’s cells.