Tumor-specific genetic expression profile of metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Metastasis is the most important predictor of survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We tested the hypothesis that there is a genetic expression profile associated with OSCC metastasis.


METHODS
We obtained samples from 6 OSCC node-positive primary tumors and their matched metastatic lymph nodes, and 5 OSCC node-negative primary tumors. Using laser capture microdissection, we isolated OSCC cells from metastatic lymph nodes and compared them with those from matched primary tumors and unmatched node-negative primary tumors using Affymetrix Human Genome Focus arrays.


RESULTS
Comparison of tumor cells from the lymph nodes with those from the unmatched, node-negative primary tumors revealed differential expression of 160 genes. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis using this 160-gene set showed that the node-negative samples were distinguishable from both, node-positive primary tumors and tumors in the lymph nodes. Many of the expression changes found in the metastatic cells from the lymph nodes were also found in the node-positive primary tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis for transglutaminase-3 and keratin 16 confirmed the differential genetic expression for these genes.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggest that there may be a metastatic gene expression profile present in node-positive primary OSCC.
Méndez
Eduardo
E
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
Fan
Wenhong
W
Choi
Peter
P
Agoff
S Nicholas
SN
Whipple
Mark
M
Farwell
D Gregory
DG
Futran
Neal D
ND
Weymuller
Ernest A
EA
Zhao
Lue-Ping
LP
Chen
Chu
C
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053536:Keratin-16 / Q000235:genetics; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000235:genetics; D042282:Microdissection; D009060:Mouth Floor; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
D053536:Keratin-16; D008667:Metalloproteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C083686:RPS27 protein, human; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; C498712:TGM3 protein, human; D011503:Transglutaminases