title: Expression of a novel marker, Ubc9, in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (Ubc9) is a novel enzyme involved in posttranslational modification of cellular proteins. The objective of this study was to determine the expression of Ubc9 in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
  
  
  METHODS
  SCCHN specimens were stained with anti-Ubc9 antibodies, scored using a semiquantitative method, and statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six tumors were stained, 26 of which included adjacent mucosa. Ubc9 was significantly upregulated in the malignant and peritumoral tissues compared with mucosa from normal individuals. In peritumoral tissues, Ubc9 expression was detected in the basal and suprabasal epithelial layers. No Ubc9 was detected in epithelial cells in normal mucosa. These differences in Ubc9 expression were statistically significant (p < .0001). Tumor Ubc9 expression significantly correlated with clinical and pathologic stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ubc9 is significantly overexpressed in the primary SCCHN tumors and peritumoral mucosa compared with normal epithelial cells. These findings suggest that Ubc9 may play an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression of SCCHN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Ohad
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ronen
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bivens
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Lakshmi P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Paruchuri
authors.forename: Yin-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: K Thomas
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098843:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme UBC9
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes; D000098843:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme UBC9