Nucleostemin expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
BACKGROUND
This study presents initial data on presence of nucleostemin--a nucleolar protein typical of stem cells in the normal squamous epithelium of the oropharynx and larynx - in squamous cell carcinoma originating from these epithelia.


METHODS
Differentiation and proliferation markers such as keratins, beta-catenin, galectin-1, and Ki-67 were studied in parallel with nucleostemin for defining cell characteristics.


RESULTS
Nucleostemin was detected in nucleoli of both proliferating basal cells and terminally differentiated suprabasal cells of normal epithelium and in tumor cells. Importantly, malignant transformation was connected with a significant enlargement of nucleostemin-positive nucleoli in these cell types.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of nucleostemin in head and neck cancer cells, together with the size of nucleoli, may be important in the evaluation of tumor differentiation and biology.
Cada
Zdenek
Z
Institute of Anatomy and Head and Neck Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Boucek
Jan
J
Dvoranková
Barbora
B
Chovanec
Martin
M
Plzák
Jan
J
Kodets
Roman
R
Betka
Jan
J
Pinot
Gian L
GL
Gabius
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Smetana
Karel
K
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007830:Larynx / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C469949:GNL3 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins