α‐Smooth muscle actin‐positive myofibroblasts, in association with epithelial–mesenchymal transition and lymphogenesis, is a critical prognostic parameter in patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Our results indicate that α-SMA-positive myofibroblasts have important impacts on cancer progression, metastasis, and survival prognosis of patients with OTSCC. The functions of α-SMA-positive myofibroblasts in OTSCC may be associated with promoting EMT of tumor cells and lymphogenesis of metastasis microenvironment.