Phosphoinositide kinase-3 status associated with presence or absence of human papillomavirus in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate phosphoinositide kinase-3 (PI3K) activation in relation to human papillomavirus (HPV) status in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
Gene expression microarray data were analyzed to determine differentially expressed genes between HPV(+) and HPV(-) HNSCC. PIK3CA gene expression was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in seven HPV(+) and seven HPV(-) primary HNSCCs. PIK3CA mutation status in three HPV(+) and nine HPV(-) cell lines was determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification of hot spot exons (1, 9, 20) followed by direct sequencing.


RESULTS
PIK3CA was overexpressed in HPV(+)-associated HNSCC compared with the expression in HPV(-) HNSCC. Activation of PIK3CA by mutation was found in 1 of the 12 tested HNSCC cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
Activation of PI3K by mutation of PIK3CA is rare in HNSCC cell lines and was not found in three HPV(+) cell lines. One mechanism by which HPV-associated HNSCC might activate PI3K is increased expression of PIK3CA.
Yarbrough
Wendell G
WG
Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-8605, USA. Wendell.yarbrough@vanderbilt.edu
Whigham
Amy
A
Brown
Brandee
B
Roach
Michael
M
Slebos
Robbert
R
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000821:virology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases