Differential tissue and subcellular expressionof ERM proteins in normal and malignant tissues: cytoplasmic ezrin expression has prognostic signficance for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Members of the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) protein family regulate cellular shape, motility, and proliferation and potentially influence ability to metastasize. We investigated the correlation between ERM subcellular localization and survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) METHODS: Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed from paraffin-embedded tissue. TMA sections were evaluated for ERM protein expression immunohistochemically. The results were compared across clinical and histopathologic variables


RESULTS
ERM staining results for 47 patients showed that cytoplasmic ERM expression was prevalent in tumors (>92%). Whereas ezrin and moesin also localized to the membrane, only willin was found in the nucleus of tumors. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that strong cytoplasmic ezrin expression was independently associated with poorer survival (p = .04, hazard ratio 1.82)


CONCLUSIONS
Both level of expression and subcellular localization of ERM proteins may be important indicators of clinical outcome in SCC. This pilot study justifies the need for an expanded validation study of ERM proteins and clinical outcome.
Madan
Rashna
R
Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Brandwein-Gensler
Margaret
M
Schlecht
Nicolas F
NF
Elias
Kristin
K
Gorbovitsky
Eleanor
E
Belbin
Thomas J
TJ
Mahmood
Radma
R
Breining
Dwayne
D
Qian
Hong
H
Childs
Geoffrey
G
Locker
Joseph
J
Smith
Richard
R
Haigentz
Missak
M
Gunn-Moore
Frank
F
Prystowsky
Michael B
MB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D000099149:Ezrin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D000099149:Ezrin; C504793:FRMD6 protein, human; C071058:moesin