An expression profile for diagnosis of lymph node metastases from primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
Metastasis is the process by which cancers spread to distinct sites in the body. It is the principal cause of death in individuals suffering from cancer. For some types of cancer, early detection of metastasis at lymph nodes close to the site of the primary tumor is pivotal for appropriate treatment. Because it can be difficult to detect lymph node metastases reliably, many individuals currently receive inappropriate treatment. We show here that DNA microarray gene-expression profiling can detect lymph node metastases for primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas that arise in the oral cavity and oropharynx. The predictor, established with an 82-tumor training set, outperforms current clinical diagnosis when independently validated. The 102 predictor genes offer unique insights into the processes underlying metastasis. The results show that the metastatic state can be deciphered from the primary tumor gene-expression pattern and that treatment can be substantially improved.
Roepman
Paul
P
Department of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Wessels
Lodewyk F A
LF
Kettelarij
Nienke
N
Kemmeren
Patrick
P
Miles
Antony J
AJ
Lijnzaad
Philip
P
Tilanus
Marcel G J
MG
Koole
Ronald
R
Hordijk
Gert-Jan
GJ
van der Vliet
Peter C
PC
Reinders
Marcel J T
MJ
Slootweg
Piet J
PJ
Holstege
Frank C P
FC
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity