Expression of nm23 antimetastatic gene product in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

The nm23 gene has been implicated as a suppressor gene involved in the control of the metastatic process of malignant cells. Reduced levels of nm23 gene product have been found in tumor cells with high metastatic potential such as several types of rodent tumors and human breast, colorectal, and lung carcinoma. This pilot study examines the expression of the nm23 gene product compared with nodal status in 70 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out on these tumor tissues with a monoclonal antibody to nm23-H1 peptide sequence. The tissues were scored from 0 to 2 by 2 independent observers. Reduced immunoreactivity, grades 0 and 1, was observed in 30 patients with positive nodal status (N = 34, 88%). Strong immunoreactivity, grade 2, was observed in 20 patients with negative nodal status (N = 36, 56%). Reduced expression of nm23 gene product was observed in patients with positive lymph node metastasis (P = 0. 0006, chi(2)). However, no significant differences in survival of these groups based on nm23 expression could be shown with the Kaplan-Meier analysis. This initial finding in the difference of nm23 gene product expression in patients with differing lymph node status is exciting but must be further validated with future studies.

Nm23‐H1 expression of metastatic tumors in the lymph nodes is a prognostic indicator of oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…In the reports of HNSCC, Song et al 33 suggested that the reduced Nm23-H1 immunoreactivity be correlated with more lymphatic metastases and less favorable survival outcome, whereas Pavelic et al 25 presented a different result showing the increased Nm23-H1 expression in association with poor prognosis. Such discordance may be caused by the different tumor distributions at the various anatomic subsites of head and neck, methods of immunohistochemistry and scoring criteria for pathological variables between these two studies.…”

Expressão da proteína nm23 em carcinoma de células escamosas de língua metastático e não-metastático

“…Song et al 20 also reached this conclusion in a study of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. These authors found no correlation with protein expression and the survival rate of patients.…”

nm23 protein expression in metastatic and non-metastatic tongue squamous cell carcinoma

“…Ohtsuki et al 19 undertook an immunohistochemical analysis of nm23 protein expression in paraffin-included specimens of 33 OSCC cases and found that there may be suppression of metastases in this condition. Song et al 20 also reached this conclusion in a study of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. These authors found no correlation with protein expression and the survival rate of patients.…”