Collagen Type IV Expression in Well, Moderate and Poorly Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

ABSTRACT Background: Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) is the most important and common form of cancer of the oral cavity, Having a very high risk of local invasion, and nodal and distant metastases. Studying the mechanisms of invasion and metastasis of malignant cancers has had a crucial role in developing possible therapies tools. Type VI Collagen is expressed in a variety of tissues and abnormal expression is Related to the invasion and progression of different types of cancer in the body. Aim: To assess whether this protein (type IV collagen) may be employed as an early detector of the biological behavior of altered cells (neoplastic cell), the purpose of this research was to compare the (IV collagen) in the three grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Materials and Methods: Type IV collagen staining brightness intensity and distribution mode among the histological grade of oscc, and Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact t-tests were employed to analyze differences between this grade of oscc statistically. Results: Well-differentiated(w)SCC had more elevated type IV staining than poorly-differentiated (p) SCC (P = 0.003). In comparison to highly invasive SCCs, the expression appears more bright (P value = 0.002) and more continuous (P value = 0.002) in the early stage of cancer invasion. Conclusion: The findings showed a correlation between the degree of SCC cells’ differentiation and type IV in a close direct manner, this correlation shows that when SCC cells differentiate less, they lose their capacity to basement membrane creation. Keywords: Immunohistochemistry; Squamous cell carcinoma; Type IV collagen, Basement membrane; Oral mucosa.