Quantification of estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor expression in normal, dysplastic, and oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues in South Indian population: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION

Cancer is the second most common cause of mortality in developing countries after cardiac diseases. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer. Sex hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, can modulate various biological processes resulting in cell proliferation, evasion, and apoptosis. While the involvement of estrogen and progesterone has been proven in multiple cancers, including laryngeal, hypopharyngeal, breast, and prostate, the present study attempted to explore the role of these hormones in OSCCs within the South Indian population.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the expression pattern of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) in dysplastic and OSCC tissues in comparison to normal tissues.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Thirty participants, each with normal, dysplastic, and OSCC tissues (Groups A, B, and C, respectively), were recruited based on the inclusion criteria. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples were used to assess the ERα and PR expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction using the kit method.

RESULTS

The difference in the expression pattern of ERα and PR among OSCC, dysplastic, and normal groups was shown to be statistically significant ( P < 0.001), according to the Kruskal-Wallis test. A pairwise comparison of ERα and PR expression using the post hoc Bonferroni test also showed a significant association ( P < 0.001) between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The precise role of hormones in OSCC has been less explored in the literature. Therefore, the significant expression of ERα and PR observed in dysplastic and OSCC groups in this study may elucidate their roles in tumor development and progression.