FGFR-2 and -3 Play an Important Role in Initial Stages of Oral Oncogenesis

Background: FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 (fibroblast growth factor receptors) have been shown to play an important role in several processes including carcinogenesis. This study was designed to determine gradual FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 expression in sequential stages of oral carcinogenesis in an experimental animal system of Syrian golden hamsters. Materials and Methods: Tissue sections ranging from normal mucosa to squamous cell carcinoma were studied using monoclonal antibodies against FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 proteins. Results: A significant elevation was revealed in both FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 expression during the stages of dysplasia and early invasion, while in the later stages of oral carcinogenesis the expression of both FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 decreased although not significantly. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 seem to play an important role in the initial stages of oral cancer progression. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is considered to be the sixth most common malignancy worldwide and is associated with severe morbidity and high mortality (1). More than 300,000 new cases of OSCC are being diagnosed annually all over the world (2). Nevertheless, the results of the treatment of oral cancer patients have not shown any