# The Expression of Laminin-5 in Malignant Lesions of the Oral Cavity and Its Association With the Aggressiveness of the Tumor

## TL;DR

This study explores the role of laminin-5 in oral cancer, finding it linked to tumor differentiation but not overall aggressiveness.

## Contribution

The study identifies laminin-5 as a potential marker for tumor differentiation in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

## Key findings

- Laminin-5 was positive in 83.4% of oral cancer cases.
- Laminin-5 expression was significantly associated with tumor differentiation (p = 0.027).
- No significant link was found between laminin-5 and tumor stage or metastasis.

## Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes a major subset of head and neck cancers, with significant variability in clinical outcomes. Laminin-5, a key extracellular matrix protein involved in cell adhesion and invasion, may serve as a biomarker for tumor aggressiveness. This cross-sectional study involved 30 histologically confirmed OSCC patients who underwent surgical excision at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess laminin-5 expression, which was then correlated with tumor thickness, differentiation, TNM staging, and metastasis. Laminin-5 positivity was observed in 83.4% of cases. A statistically significant association was found between laminin-5 expression and tumor differentiation (p = 0.027), with the highest mean expression seen in moderately differentiated tumors (65.24%). No significant correlation was noted between laminin-5 expression and tumor stage, nodal status, metastasis, or tumor thickness. These findings suggest that laminin-5 may serve as a useful histological marker of tumor differentiation in OSCC and could aid in evaluating tumor behavior and prognosis.