OBJECTIVETo investigate the subcellular expression of mammary serine proteinase inhibitor (Maspin) in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its relationship to the clinicopathological features.

METHODSThe Maspin protein subcellular expression was detected in 45 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma by immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between the Maspin protein subcellular expression and the clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.

RESULTSThe negative rate of nuclear maspin expression was 64% (29/45), and the weakly positive rate was 11% (5/45), and the strong positive rate was 24% (11/45). Nuclear maspin expression was negatively correlated with T stage (P = 0.019), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.038) and postoperative metastasis (P = 0.004), but positively correlated with the patients' survival rate (P = 0.014). The negative rate of cytoplasmatic maspin expression was 38% (17/45), and the weakly positive rate was 31% (14/45), and the strong positive rate was 31% (14/45). Cytoplasmatic maspin expression was negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.038) and postoperative metastasis (P = 0.004), but positively correlated with the patients' survival rate (P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONSMaspin expression may be a significant marker in predicting prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.