Molecular classification of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas using patterns of gene expression.
The prognostication of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is largely based upon the tumor size and location and the presence of lymph node metastases. Here we show that gene expression patterns from 60 HNSCC samples assayed on cDNA microarrays allowed categorization of these tumors into four distinct subtypes. These subtypes showed statistically significant differences in recurrence-free survival and included a subtype with a possible EGFR-pathway signature, a mesenchymal-enriched subtype, a normal epithelium-like subtype, and a subtype with high levels of antioxidant enzymes. Supervised analyses to predict lymph node metastasis status were approximately 80% accurate when tumor subsite and pathological node status were considered simultaneously. This work represents an important step toward the identification of clinically significant biomarkers for HNSCC.
Chung
Christine H
CH
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbuilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbuilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA.
Parker
Joel S
JS
Karaca
Gamze
G
Wu
Junyuan
J
Funkhouser
William K
WK
Moore
Dominic
D
Butterfoss
Dale
D
Xiang
Dong
D
Zanation
Adam
A
Yin
Xiaoying
X
Shockley
William W
WW
Weissler
Mark C
MC
Dressler
Lynn G
LG
Shores
Carol G
CG
Yarbrough
Wendell G
WG
Perou
Charles M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor