Purpose We determined hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-Met expression and signaling in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells and primary tissues and tested the ability of c-Met tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) to block HGF-induced biological signaling. Experimental Design Expression and signaling were determined using immunoblotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Biological end points included wound healing, cell proliferation, and invasion. c-Met TKIs were tested for their ability to block HGF-induced signaling and biological effects in vitro and in xenografts established in nude mice. Results c-Met was expressed and functional in HNSCC cells. HGF was secreted by HNSCC tumor-derived fibroblasts, but not by HNSCC cells. Activation of c-Met promoted phosphorylation of AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase as well as release of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8. Cell growth and wound healing were also stimulated by HGF. c-Met TKIs blocked HGF-induced signaling, interleukin-8 release, and wound healing. Enhanced invasion of HNSCC cells induced by the presence of tumor-derived fibroblasts was completely blocked with a HGF-neutralizing antibody. PF-2341066, a c-Met TKI, caused a 50% inhibition of HNSCC tumor growth in vivo with decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis within the tumors. In HNSCC tumor tissues, both HGF and c-Met protein were increased compared with expression in normal mucosa. Conclusions These results show that HGF acts mainly as a paracrine factor in HNSCC cells, the HGF/c-Met pathway is frequently up-regulated and functional in HNSCC, and a clinically relevant c-Met TKI shows antitumor activity in vivo. Blocking the HGF/c-Met pathway may be clinically useful for the treatment of HNSCC.

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VFA is a more useful parameter than BMI in predicting surgical outcomes after LAC.

Low-attenuation hemangiomas and those that changed from homogeneous high to isoattenuation are atypical and difficult to differentiate from other neoplasms. Most early parenchymal enhancement is caused by associated arterioportal shunts.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is frequently over-expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) where aberrant signaling downstream of this receptor contributes to tumor growth. EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) is the most commonly altered form of EGFR and contains a truncated ligand-binding domain. We previously reported that EGFRvIII is expressed in up to 40% of HNSCC tumors where it is associated with increased proliferation, tumor growth and chemoresistance to anti-tumor drugs including the EGFR targeting monoclonal antibody cetuximab. Cetuximab was FDA-approved in 2006 for HNSCC but has not been shown to prevent invasion or metastasis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the mechanisms of EGFRvIII-mediated cell motility and invasion in HNSCC. We found that EGFRvIII induced HNSCC cell migration and invasion in conjunction with increased STAT3 activation, which was not abrogated by cetuximab treatment. Further investigation demonstrated that EGF-induced expression of the STAT3 target gene HIF1-α, was abolished by cetuximab in HNSCC cells expressing wild-type EGFR under hypoxic conditions, but not in EGFRvIII-expressing HNSCC cells. These results suggest that EGFRvIII mediates HNSCC cell migration and invasion via increased STAT3 activation and induction of HIF1-α, which contribute to cetuximab resistance in EGFRvIII-expressing HNSCC tumors.

Purpose Increased expression and/or activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in many cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Src family kinases, including c-Src, mediate a variety of intra- or extracellular signals that contribute to tumor formation and progression. This study was undertaken to elucidate the role of c-Src in the growth and invasion of HNSCC and to determine the effects of combined targeting of EGFR and Src kinases in HNSCC cell lines. Experimental design HNSCC cells were engineered to stably express a dominant-active (DA) form of c-Src and investigated in cell growth and invasion assays. The biochemical effects of combined treatment with the Src inhibitor, AZD0530, a potent, orally active Src inhibitor with Bcr/Abl activity and the EGFR kinase inhibitor, gefitinib, were examined as well as the consequences of dual Src/EGFR targeting on the growth and invasion of a panel of HNSCC cell lines. Results HNSCC cells expressing DA c-Src demonstrated increased growth and invasion compared with vector-transfected controls. Combined treatment with AZD0530 and gefitinib resulted in greater inhibition of HNSCC cell growth and invasion compared with either agent alone. Conclusions These results suggest that increased expression and activation of c-Src promotes HNSCC progression where combined targeting of EGFR and c-Src may be an efficacious treatment approach.

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Sorcin is a 21.6-kDa Ca(2+) binding protein of the penta-EF hand family. Several studies have shown that sorcin modulates multiple proteins involved in excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in the heart, such as the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2), L-type Ca(2+) channel, and Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger, while it has also been shown to be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). To elucidate the effects of sorcin and its PKA-dependent regulation on E-C coupling in the heart, we identified the PKA-phosphorylation site of sorcin, and found that serine178 was preferentially phosphorylated by PKA and dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase-1. Isoproterenol allowed sorcin to translocate to the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In addition, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of sorcin in adult rat cardiomyocytes significantly increased both the rate of decay of the Ca(2+) transient and the SR Ca(2+) load. An assay of oxalate-facilitated Ca(2+) uptake showed that recombinant sorcin increased Ca(2+) uptake in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that sorcin activates the Ca(2+)-uptake function in the SR. In UM-X7. 1 cardiomyopathic hamster hearts, the relative amount of sorcin was significantly increased in the SR fraction, whereas it was significantly decreased in whole-heart homogenates. In failing hearts, PKA-phosphorylated sorcin was markedly increased, as assessed using a back-phosphorylation assay with immunoprecipitated sorcin. Our results suggest that sorcin activates Ca(2+)-ATPase-mediated Ca(2+) uptake and restores SR Ca(2+) content, and may play critical roles in compensatory mechanisms in both Ca(2+) homeostasis and cardiac dysfunction in failing hearts.