421769

Enhanced expression of MerTK is linked to oral squamous cell carcinoma invasion and clearance of degenerated cancer cells

Article

Last updated: 27 Apr 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

Abstract

The rank for squamous cell carcinoma affecting oral cavity (OSCC) is six worldwide; presenting limited therapy options and low rate of survival (5 years). Macrophages that are accompanying tumors (TAMs) are implicated in progression of cancer by dampening the response of immune reaction. Activation of TAMs receptor, designated as tyrosine-protein kinase Mer (MerTK), in cells of myeloid lineage promotes progression of cancer by suppressing immune reactions. To date not much information is analyzed and interpreted about the role of MerTK in OSCC. We carried the existing study to investigate MerTK immunohistochemical expression in OSCC as well as in carcinoma in situ (CIS) and correlate the expression to OSCC invasion. For this research, 93 archival previously diagnosed OSCC paraffin blocks were retrieved and immunohistochemistry was performed for MerTK, CD31, and HLA-DR. No MerTK expression was seen in normal epithelia, small number of MerTK + cells were seen beneath CIS revealing noticeable physical contact with overlying basement membrane whereas in OSCC different grades there are significant amount of apparent variance of MerTK expression from well differentiated to poorly differentiated. Enhanced MerTK expression was noticed from CIS to OSCC which might be associated with proliferation, migration and invasion, therefore MerTK might be considered as a possible target for OSCC therapy. Furthermore, it enabled scavenging of degenerated OSCC cells by macrophages.

DOI

10.21608/edj.2025.344478.3308

Keywords

MerTK, OSCC, invasion, stroma, scavenging

Authors

First Name

Ahmed

Last Name

Essa

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Oral Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

Email

drahmedeissa1900@gmail.com

City

Tanta

Orcid

0000-0003-3675-1319

Volume

71

Article Issue

2

Related Issue

54986

Issue Date

2025-04-01

Receive Date

2024-12-14

Publish Date

2025-04-01

Page Start

1,323

Page End

1,331

Print ISSN

0070-9484

Online ISSN

2090-2360

Link

https://edj.journals.ekb.eg/article_421769.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=421769

Order

421,769

Type

Original Article

Type Code

254

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Dental Journal

Publication Link

https://edj.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Enhanced expression of MerTK is linked to oral squamous cell carcinoma invasion and clearance of degenerated cancer cells

Details

Type

Article

Created At

27 Apr 2025