Comorbidity Assessment in Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Can Imaging Techniques (Fludeoxyglucose Positron-Emission Tomographic Computed Tomography and Contrast-Enhanced Computed tomography) Provide Additional Information?

Fatty Acid Receptor CD36 Functions as a Surrogate Parameter for Lymph Node Metastasis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Simple Summary

The frequent occurrence of occult cervical lymph node metastasis is still a therapeutic challenge in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and represents a limiting factor in terms of survival. The common staging of malignancy is not precise enough to predict the development of lymph node metastases and additional prognostic factors are needed. In this study we show that CD36, a protein related to fatty acid metabolism, is expressed in OSCC and correlates with the occurrence of lymph node metastasis. CD36 may be useful as a specific parameter for lymph node metastasis and as a progression parameter for survival. Therefore, CD36 could be useful for risk stratification regarding lymph node metastasis in OSCC and, beyond that, CD36 could also be a possible therapeutic target in future.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the expression pattern of CD36 in a patient population with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to correlate CD36 expression with clinical and histopathological parameters. The hypothesis was that CD36 expression correlates with the occurrence of lymph node metastasis. Methods: To address the study objectives, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. Study variables included demographic, histopathological and survival data. CD36 expression patterns were assessed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays (TMA). Logistic regression analysis, survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were performed. Results: High CD36 expression correlated significantly with a higher T-status, grading and occurrence of lymph node metastasis. The logistic regression with binary N status as a dependent variable showed that high CD36 expression increased the chance for lymph node metastasis 45-fold (OR = 44.7, 95% CI: 10.0–316). Patients with high CD36 expression had lower probabilities of progression-free survival. CD36 had a small and non-significant independent influence on progression-free survival. Conclusions: CD36 is expressed in OSCC and correlates with tumor grading, T-status, and especially the occurrence of lymph node metastasis. CD36 may be useful for risk stratification regarding lymph node metastasis in OSCC.

Classification of the journal category "oral surgery" in the Scopus and the Science Citation Index Expanded: flaws and suggestions

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the journal category “oral surgery” in Scopus and in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE).

Materials and Methods

The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS), The Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (JKAOMS), and The Journal of Prosthodontic Research (JPR) were selected from the Scopus list of journals as oral surgery journals. Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (MPRS) was selected from PubMed as a Scopus oral surgery title. From these titles, 10 recently published articles were collected and used for reference analysis.

Results

The percentage of citations from oral surgery journals was 26.7%, 24.5%, and 40.1% for JKAOMS, MPRS, and JOMS, respectively. In total, 1.1% of JPR's citations were from oral surgery journals and significantly fewer from other journals (P<0.001). The percentage of citations from dentistry journals excluding oral surgery journals was 11.9%, 34.4%, and 15.8% for JKAOMS, MPRS, and JOMS, respectively. For JPR, 80.6% of citations were from dentistry journals and significantly more were from other journals (P<0.001).

Conclusion

Selected samples revealed that JPR is incorrectly classified as an oral surgery journal in Scopus. In addition, the scientific interaction among JKAOMS, MPRS, and JOMS was different to JPR in the reference analysis.