Frequent high telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Gene copy number gain of chromosomal arm 5p is frequently found in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) suggesting the activation of proto-oncogenes. TERT is a candidate gene encoding for human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relevance of TERT copy number gain and high hTERT expression in OSCC.


METHODS
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for TERT and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for hTERT were performed to analyze TERT copy numbers and hTERT expression, respectively, on tissue microarray (TMA) sections including n = 247 OSCC and n = 105 pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (PSCC/LSCC).


RESULTS
Increased hTERT protein expression was more frequently found in OSCC (71.1%, 155/218) than in PSCC/LSCC (36.0%, 35/89) (P < 0.001). By contrast, specific TERT amplifications were less common in OSCC (2.1%, 4/191) compared with PSCC/LSCC (9.9%, 8/81) (P = 0.047).


CONCLUSIONS
High hTERT expression is a frequent finding in OSCC. It might be a promising target for the development of specific anti-neoplastic therapy approaches.
Freier
Kolja
K
Klinik für Mund-Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. kolja.freier@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Pungs
Susanne
S
Flechtenmacher
Christa
C
Bosch
Franz X
FX
Lichter
Peter
P
Joos
Stefan
S
Hofele
Christof
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase