The clinical relevance of microsatellite alterations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a critical review

Abstract

Triggered by the existing confusion in the field, the current paper aimed to review the current knowledge of both microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) detected by microsatellite markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and to provide the reader with an assessment of their prognostic and predictive value in this tumor type. For both MSI and LOH, various detection methods were included such as mono-and polynucleotidemarkers and gel-as well as automated analyses. Only studies based on PCR techniques with microsatellite markers were considered. Taking the methodological problems occurring in investigations with microsatellite markers into account, LOH seems to be more common than MSI in HNSCC. Although both types of microsatellite alterations have been correlated with clinicopathological features of this tumor type, only LOH seems to have a clear prognostic value. The predictive value of both MSI and LOH is debatable. More research has to be performed to clearly establish LOH detection as a translational application in the HNSCC field, aiming to predict response to treatments or outcome, and eventually to use as a therapeutic target.

The prevalence of microsatellite instability in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“…This confirms reports that MMR deficiencies are uncommon in HNSCC and suggests that publications on higher MSI frequencies may overestimate its frequency because of marker-and technique-related problems that we have discussed previously (De Schutter et al 2007).…”

“…It is not yet clear if MSI plays a role in the carcinogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Both high and low frequencies of MSI in HNSCC have been reported and there is doubt as to the clinical value of any positive findings (De Schutter et al 2007). …”

Multiple tumor-suppressor genes on chromosome 3p contribute to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis

“…1 Surgical resection of head and neck cancer is relatively restricted by its anatomy. The head and neck area is a narrow space that contains several vital structures, so resection margins are limited.…”

Clinical significance of genome‐wide minimally deleted regions in oral squamous cell carcinomas

“…Seventeen of the 24 high-LOH (>50%) loci, which are located on 2p11.2 (Weber et al, 2007), 4q32.1 (Tsantoulis et al, 2007), 5q14.3(Glavac et al, 2003, 5q21.2 (Tsantoulis et al, 2007), 6q24.1 (Rutherford et al, 2006), 6q25.2 Chen, 2008), 9p22.3 (De Schutter et al, 2007), 9q34.11 (Beder et al, 2003), 10q22.1 (Chen and Chen, 2008), 14q11.2 (Beder et al, 2003), 14q24.2 (Chen and Chen, 2008), 17p12 (Glavac et al, 2003;De Schutter et al, 2007), 17p13.3 (Glavac et al, 2003, 17q21.3 (Glavac et al, 2003), 18q12.1 (Takebayashi et al, 2004), 19p13.3 (Qiu et al, 2006) and 22q11.22 (PoliFrederico et al, 2000, have been previously reported as associated with HNSCC, including OSCC, and these have been further validated by our LOH analysis. Seven newly identified high-LOH regions on 2p21, 4q12, 5p13.2, 5p15.1, 5q35.1, 7q21.13, and 19q13.43 are reported for the first time in the current study as being associated with OSCC.…”