Overexpression of JAG2 is related to poor outcomes in oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: JAG2 is one of Notch ligands, which recently appear to exert various carcinogenesis. In the present study, we aimed to unveil the relation of JAG2 expression and clinicopathological features in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined JAG2 expression in OSCC plus adjacent nontumorous epithelia in eight patients. Ninety‐one OSCC tissue specimens were immunohistochemically stained with specific antibodies to JAG2. The immunoreactivities of JAG2 were correlated with clinicopathological factors, including the prognosis of patients. Chi‐square test, Kaplan–Meier survival, and Cox proportional hazard analysis were used to determine the statistical value of JAG2 expression in OSCC. RESULTS: JAG2 mRNA expression was much expressed in OSCC tissues compared with adjacent tissue specimens in five of eight patients. JAG2 immunoreactivity was found at invasion front in 31 of 91 OSCC. JAG2 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with age, less than 50 years old of patients (P = .048). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that the patients with JAG2 immunoreactvty have a short overall survival. With the Cox proportional hazard regression mode, the independent factors predictive of poor overall survival included JAG2 immunoreactivity (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that JAG2 overexpression, especially at the cancer invasion front, has potential prognostic value.