Keratin 18 as a cytoskeletal regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and prognostic risk in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background/purpose

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) shows poor survival, and conventional staging does not fully capture biologic aggressiveness. Keratin 18 (KRT18) has been linked to malignant progression in epithelial cancers, but its prognostic and biologic significance in OSCC remains unclear. This study investigated whether KRT18 expression is associated with aggressive invasion patterns and adverse outcomes in OSCC, and whether KRT18 contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity-related malignant phenotypes.