Natriuretic peptide receptor A is related to the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors A and C, and is associated with the invasion potential of tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA) is one of the natriuretic peptide receptors. NPRA has been reported to play a role in the carcinogenesis of various tumours, as well as functional roles in renal, cardiovascular, endocrine, and skeletal homeostasis. The clinicopathological significance of NPRA in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) was examined in this study. The overexpression of NPRA was more frequent in TSCC (21/58, 36.2%) than in the normal oral epithelium (0/10, 0%) (P < 0.05). It was also more frequently observed in cancers with higher grades according to the pattern of invasion (grades 1-2 vs. grades 3-4, P < 0.01). Additionally, there was a tendency towards an association between the N classification and NPRA expression (N0 vs. N1-2, P = 0.06). Significant correlations were also observed between the expression of NPRA and that of VEGF-A (P < 0.001) and VEGF-C (P < 0.001). The high-NPRA expression group had a significantly poorer prognosis, with a 5-year disease-specific survival rate of 39.7%, compared to 97.0% in the low-expression group (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis suggested that the overexpression of NPRA may also be an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.05). In conclusion, NPRA is associated with VEGF expression levels, invasion, and metastasis, and may be a prognostic factor in TSCC patients.