Gene expression profiling of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and two squamous cell carcinoma cell lines under radio/chemotherapy using cDNA arrays.
OBJECTIVE
The response of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) to radio/chemotherapy is accompanied by complex changes in patterns of gene expression. It is highly probable that a better understanding of molecular and genetic changes can help to optimize the treatment of HNSCC. cDNA arrays provide a powerful tool for high-throughput monitoring of gene expression in small clinical specimens.


METHODS
We used tumour biopsies from four patients with HNSCC which have been taken prior to and during radio/chemotherapy. The patterns of gene expression obtained from clinical samples were compared with gene expression profiles of two squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (FaDU and UD-7A).


RESULTS
The experimental data analysis revealed changes in expression levels of several genes during radio/chemotherapy. Despite treatment, independent samples taken from the same cell line or tumour in situ were more similar to each other than either was to other specimens. The data indicate a high gene heterogeneity of HNSCC that is preserved during treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
From our preliminary results we conclude that the cDNA array experimental approach can detect differences in gene expression between treated and untreated small tumour biopsies, as well as inter-individual differences in expression profiles between HNSCC tumours. The examination of a greater sample size will be needed to make this preliminary evaluation useful to elucidate the functional significance of individual genes which exhibit altered levels of expression under radiation therapy.
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Karl Axel
KA
Hartmann
Olga
O
Modlich
Hans Bernd
HB
Prisack
Bärbel
B
Gerlach
Hans
H
Bojar
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured