Clinical significance of raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its role in cell metastasis

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression pattern of raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) samples and to explore its clinical significance in OSCC metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot assay were conducted to detect the expression of RKIP in OSCC tissues and cells. The relationship between RKIP expression and OSCC clinicopathological characteristics was statistically analyzed. Transwell assay. wound healing assay, and Western blot were used to detect the influence of RKIP on the metastasis ability of OSCC cells. RESULTS: RKIP was significantly downreguIated in OSCC samples. Low expression of RKIP predicted high incidence of metastasis in OSCC patients. In vitro experiments demonstrated that overexpression of RKIP could significantly inhibit invasion and migration abilities of OSCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: RKIP was a novel factor involved in OSCC progression, which was a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the patients.