Establishment of the role of myofibroblasts in invasive process of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A pilot study

AIMS: To establish the role of myofibroblasts in invasive process of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four study groups were formed as follows: group 1 consisting of 30 cases of well-differentiated OSCC, group 2 consisting of 30 cases of moderately differentiated OSCC, group 3 consisting of 30 cases of poorly differentiated OSCC, and group 4 consisting of controls. Staining of all of the specimens was done using a-SMA antibody through immunohistochemistry (IHC) procedure. Multiplication product of staining intensity (A) and percentage of a-SMA-stained immuno-positive cells (B) gave a final staining index (FSI). According to FSI, score zero was graded as index zero; score one and two were graded as index low; score three and score were graded as index moderate; and score six, seven, eight and nine were graded as index high. RESULTS: Mean FSI among specimens of groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 7.93, 8.47, 8.8, and 0, respectively. Non-significant results were obtained while comparing the mean final staining index among specimens of groups 1, 2 and 3. However; while comparing between groups 1 and 4, groups 2 and 4, and groups 3 and 4, significant results were obtained. While comparing the FSI among overall OSCC group (groups 1, 2 and 3) and controls (group 4), significant results were obtained. CONCLUSION: Myofibroblasts are an integral component of processes associated with the creation of a permissive environment for cancer invasion process in patients with OSCC. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Myofibroblasts are associated with the creation of progressive and invasive processes of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Hence, they might be employed as a part of future target for therapeutics in cancer therapy.