IL17RB expression is associated with malignant cancer behaviors and poor prognosis in oral cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Previously, we demonstrated that IL17RB plays an essential role in lung cancer progression. This study aimed to determine whether IL17RB correlates with oral cancer and promotes oral cancer progression.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: IL17RB expression in oral cancer tissues and normal tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry staining, while the association of IL17RB expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients was analyzed and its correlation with progression-free survival and response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in OSCC patients was also explored. Western blotting was performed to investigate the expression of IL17RB in various OSCC cell lines; moreover, transwell assay was performed to evaluate the effect of IL17RB expression on cell migration ability.

RESULTS: In this study, we found that IL17RB was expressed higher in OSCC tissues compared to normal oral mucosa tissues and its expression was positively correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, advanced cancer stage, and poor prognosis. In vitro study showed that IL17RB expression in OSCC cell lines as determined by Western blotting, was positively correlated with their migration ability.

CONCLUSION: Clinical and in vitro studies suggest that IL17RB might serve as an independent risk factor and a therapeutic target for oral cancer.