title: PH20: a novel tumor marker for laryngeal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether levels of PH-20, a hyaluronidase similar to that found in human sperm, are elevated in laryngeal cancer tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study. reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure levels of PH-20 messenger RNA in tissue taken from laryngectomy specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared tissue samples taken from 11 patients with laryngeal cancer, and from 2 metastatic lymph nodes, with samples of normal, healthy laryngeal tissue and prostate cancer tissue (positive control).
  
  
  METHODS
  PH-20 complementary DNA expression as quantified by densitometric analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of PH-20 was significantly higher in nonirradiated laryngeal cancer specimens than in normal laryngeal tissue (P<.01). Metastatic lymph nodes also had higher levels of PH-20 expression than did primary laryngeal cancer tissue (P = .11) and normal laryngeal tissue (P<.01). Irradiated laryngeal cancer specimens had PH-20 levels comparable to normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report the first data on PH-20 expression in laryngeal cancer tissue. PH-20 expression is significantly elevated in primary laryngeal cancer tissue and seems to be even higher in metastatic lesions compared with normal laryngeal tissue. PH-20 may be a useful tumor marker and prognostic tool for laryngeal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Godin
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Scandurro
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Belafsky
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Woodworth
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Amedee
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Beech
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Beckman
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; C066852:hyaluronidase PH-20