Differential expression of ras signal transduction mediators in verrucous and squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.
BACKGROUND
ras gene mutations and expression of its gene product have been described in verrucous and squamous cell carcinomas. Other downstream signal-transduction mediators, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK-1 and ERK-2) and Raf-1, have not yet been as extensively studied.


OBJECTIVE
To determine patterns of expression of ERK-1, ERK-2, and Raf-1 in verrucous and squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.


METHODS
Seventeen verrucous carcinomas and 10 squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract were examined for the immunohistochemical expression of ERK-1, ERK-2, and Raf-1 product.


RESULTS
Raf-1 expression was intensely expressed in the most basal portions of the epithelium in verrucous carcinomas, but was minimally expressed in the suprabasalar areas. Anti-Raf-1 staining of the squamous cell carcinomas was diffuse and patchy throughout the tumor cells and was weak in intensity. There was no geographic preference of staining. The cytoplasmic expression of both ERK-1 and ERK-2 was predominantly negative in the most basal layers of the epithelium in the verrucous carcinomas, but was positive in the suprabasalar region of the epithelium. Immunohistochemical expression of ERK-1 and ERK-2 in the squamous carcinomas was diffuse throughout the tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
There is strong correlation of the geographic expression of these mediators of ras signal transduction in verrucous and squamous carcinomas, but the cause of these differences remains unclear at present. The expression of these mediator proteins may have potential for diagnosis, as well as in understanding the biologic behavior of these lesions.
Lessard
J L
JL
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52243, USA.
Robinson
R A
RA
Hoffman
H T
HT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018289:Carcinoma, Verrucous / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009154:Mutation; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases