The search for molecular markers to improve diagnosis, individualize treatment and predict behavior of tumors has been the focus of several studies. This study aimed to analyze homeobox gene expression profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as well as to investigate whether some of these genes are relevant molecular markers of prognosis and/or tumor aggressiveness. Homeobox gene expression levels were assessed by microarrays and qRT-PCR in OSCC tissues and adjacent non-cancerous matched tissues (margin), as well as in OSCC cell lines. Analysis of microarray data revealed the expression of 147 homeobox genes, including one set of six at least 2-fold up-regulated, and another set of 34 at least 2-fold down-regulated homeobox genes in OSCC. After qRT-PCR assays, the three most up-regulated homeobox genes (HOXA5, HOXD10 and HOXD11) revealed higher and statistically significant expression levels in OSCC samples when compared to margins. Patients presenting lower expression of HOXA5 had poorer prognosis compared to those with higher expression (P=0.03). Additionally, the status of HOXA5, HOXD10 and HOXD11 expression levels in OSCC cell lines also showed a significant up-regulation when compared to normal oral keratinocytes. Results confirm the presence of three significantly upregulated (>4-fold) homeobox genes (HOXA5, HOXD10 and HOXD11) in OSCC that may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of these tumors. Moreover, since lower levels of HOXA5 predict poor prognosis, this gene may be a novel candidate for development of therapeutic strategies in OSCC.
CONTEXT: Local and regional recurrences are frequent in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and early diagnosis is important for salvage treatment. OBJECTIVE: To identify the period of highest risk for the development of recurrences after surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract, in spite of radical therapy, in order to plan the follow-up for these patients. TYPE OF STUDY: Cross-sectional, descriptive. SETTING: Department of Head and Neck Surgery/Otorhinolaryngology, Heliópolis Hospital (Hosphel), São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: A review was made of the hospital records of 889 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract surgically treated between October 1977 and December 1996: 364 had oral cavity tumors, 107 had tumors of the oropharynx, 152 of the hypopharynx and 266, larynx tumors. The disease was stage I in 14 patients, stage II in 117, stage III in 352, stage IV in 397 and 9 patients were not staged. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The interval between treatment and recurrence of disease was evaluated. The results were expressed as medians, quartiles (25% to 75%) and percentiles (10% to 90%). The annual incidence of recurrences and second tumors was calculated. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of the recurrences were diagnosed within 18 months post-treatment. The local and regional recurrences and distant metastases showed medians of 270, 210 and 435 postoperative days respectively. The incidence of a second primary tumor varied from 2 to 3.1% a year. CONCLUSION: The majority of recurrences occurred within 18 months after the initial surgical treatment. The incidence of a second tumor remained stable after the first post-treatment year.
Background Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck region is rare in young patients and even less frequent in children 15 years or younger children. The patients reported in the literature are isolated cases and their management is always difficult because there is no large experience or a convincing theory to support treatment decisions for every child. Procedures and Results. Four patients aged 15 years or younger were treated for SCC of head and neck between 1977 and 1995 at the Head and Neck Service of Heliópolis Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil, and with this paper we are reporting our experience with their treatment, including a genetic investigation in two cases (immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal antibodies against p53 and c‐erbB‐2 oncogenes). These patients had no history of tobacco or ethanol abuse and no history of cancer in their families. Many authors attribute an unusual aggressiveness to SCC in childhood, with propensity to locoregional recurrence and high death rates and therefore, propose aggressive multidisciplinary therapy. Our cases, with the exception of one, had an early diagnosis and were treated using the same method we use for adults; the results were very good. Conclusions. We recommend for these cases the same protocol as for older patients. In these cases, however, the primary lesion is resected with a safety margin which is usually 2 to 3 mm larger than usual safety margins and selective neck dissection is routinely indicated. This management is adopted in an attempt to avoid postoperative irradiation which may prove to be dangerous in the future for young patients. On the other hand, we recognize that due to a small number de patients, definitive treatment recommendations cannot be made at this time. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 31:96–99, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.