Previously, we established an in vitro cellular carcinogenesis model of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), including a human immortalized oral epithelial cell (HIOEC) line and its derived cancerous HB96 cell line. Further cDNA microarray analysis showed a significant up-regulated gene, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), accompanying with in vitro cancerization from HIOEC to HB96. In order to investigate IGFBP3 up-regulation and its potential usefulness as a molecular marker in OSCC, we detected the IGFBP3 expression with a panel of OSCC lines, and clinical samples of cancerous tissues and paired adjacent non-malignant epithelia from primary OSCC patients. Western blotting and real-time PCR showed increased IGFBP3 mRNA level and protein expression in OSCC cell lines compared with HIOEC in vitro; immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR also showed increased IGFBP3 mRNA level and protein expression in cancerous tissues compared with adjacent non-malignant epithelia from OSCC patients. Positive correlations were found between the IGFBP3 protein-positive grade in cancerous tissue and the tumor size as well as lymph node metastasis, a larger tumor size and positive lymph node metastasis indicating a higher level of IGFBP3 protein-positive grade. Based on these results, IGFBP3 may be used as a positive biomarker for OSCC development and progression.

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