Expression of protein tyrosine kinases in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
Protein tyrosine kinases (TKs) are overexpressed in many carcinomas and sarcomas. We studied the expression of the following TKs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), c-kit, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and a serine-threonine kinase, Akt. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor blocks from 44 consecutive patients with primary HNSCC and 5 specimens of benign pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa were retrieved for immunohistochemical analysis. Of the specimens, 38 had enough material to stain for all 4 antibodies. The study included 21 pharyngeal (base of tongue, 14; tonsil, 6; soft palate, 1), 16 laryngeal, and 1 floor of the mouth carcinoma. All 4 kinases in the tumor samples were expressed highly (PDGFR, 95%-100%; EGFR, 38%-43%; c-kit, 50%-86%; p-Akt, 57%-81%), with EGFR, c-kit, and p-Akt significantly higher than in benign samples. None of the kinase expressions correlated with disease-free survival. The expression of the kinases raises the possibility of treatment of HNSCC by tyrosine and serine-threonine kinase inhibitors.
Ongkeko
Weg M
WM
Department of Surgery, Division of Head and Neck, Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
Altuna
Xabier
X
Weisman
Robert A
RA
Wang-Rodriguez
Jessica
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt