Correlation between reduction of syndecan-1 expression and clinico-pathological parameters in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue

We examined expression of syndecan-1 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of tongue using immunohistochemistry. Forty-three cases of SCC arising in lateral border of tongue were investigated. From the immunohistochemical staining pattern, the cases were divided into two groups based on expression of syndecan-1 at the supra-peripheral cells of the tumor nest: Group A, completely or mainly positive; Group B, sporadically positive or negative. Most poorly differentiated SCC cases were classified into Group B (81.8%). The number of Group B cases in T1–2 was different from that in T3–4. The number of cases where syndecan-1 expression was reduced was much greater in T3–4, and represented the majority of Group B (86.7%). More than 80% of Grade 4D cases were in Group B (83.3%) based on the Yamamoto–Kohama criteria. These results indicate that reduction of syndecan-1 correlates to histological grade, tumor size and mode of invasion in tongue SCC.