Zinc deficiency potentiates induction and progression of lingual and esophageal tumors in p53-deficient mice.
Upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer, including oral and esophageal cancer, is an important cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Patients with UADT cancer are frequently zinc deficient (ZD) and show a loss of function of the pivotal tumor suppressor gene p53. The present study examined whether zinc deficiency in collaboration with p53 insufficiency (p53+/-) promotes lingual and esophageal tumorigenesis in mice exposed to low doses of the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. In wild-type mice, ZD significantly increased the incidence of lingual and esophageal tumors from 0% in zinc sufficient (ZS) ZS:p53+/+ mice to approximately 40%. On the p53+/- background, ZD:p53+/- mice had significantly greater tumor incidence and multiplicity than ZS:p53+/- and ZD:p53+/+ mice, with a high frequency of progression to malignancy. Sixty-nine and 31% of ZD:p53+/- lingual and esophageal tumors, respectively, were squamous cell carcinoma versus 19 and 0% of ZS:p53+/- tumors (tongue, P = 0.003; esophagus, P = 0.005). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the increased cellular proliferation observed in preneoplastic lingual and esophageal lesions, as well as invasive carcinomas, was accompanied by overexpression of cytokeratin 14, cyclooxygenase-2 and metallothionein. In summary, a new UADT cancer model is developed in ZD:p53+/- mouse that recapitulates aspects of the human cancer and provides opportunities to probe the genetic changes intrinsic to UADT carcinogenesis and to test strategies for prevention and reversal of this deadly cancer.
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Louise.Fong@osumc.edu
Louise Y Y
LY
Fong
Yubao
Y
Jiang
John L
JL
Farber
D015112:4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053547:Keratin-14; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000172:deficiency*; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002273:Carcinogens; C507540:KRT14 protein, human; D053547:Keratin-14; C507446:Krt14 protein, mouse; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D015112:4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide; D007633:Keratins; D008668:Metallothionein; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015032:Zinc