Figure 1. Bcl-2, Twist1 and EMT-related protein expression in the groups with lymph node metastasis (LN+) and non-lymph node metastasis (LN-) and the correlation between Bcl-2 or Twist1 with overall survival.

(A) IHC showed Bcl-2 positive staining was present in the cytoplasm and nucleu, and Twist1 positive staining was observed in the nucleus. Vimentin and N-cadherin positive staining were obvious in the LN (+) group, and they were located in the membrane and cytoplasm. E-cadherin was located in the membrane and had stronger expression in the LN (−) group. MMP-2/9 showed stronger staining in the cytoplasm in the LN (+) group. (B) and (C) Survival curves for patients with OSCC, in relation to Bcl-2 or Twist1 expression, respectively. The patients with low Bcl-2 and Twist1 expression had a better prognosis.