The helicase-like transcription factor is a strong predictor of recurrence in hypopharyngeal but not in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the immunohistochemical expression of helicase-like transcription factor (HLTF) in relation to the prognosis of hypopharyngeal (HSCCs) and laryngeal (LSCCs) squamous cell carcinomas, and to characterize the HLTF protein variants expressed in biopsy specimens of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as well as the HeLa cell line.


RESULTS
HLTF expression was determined by immunohistochemistry on a series of 100 hypopharyngeal (stage IV) and 56 laryngeal SCCs (stages I, II and IV). The HLTF variants were defined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blots in 13 fresh HNSCC biopsies and in HeLa cells. High levels of HLTF expression were associated with rapid recurrence rates in a subgroup of 81 stage IV hypopharyngeal SCCs (with complete follow-up). A 95-kDa HLTF variant truncated at the carboxyl-terminal domain was detected in addition to the 115-kDa full-size protein in HNSCC biopsies, while six variants were observed in HeLa cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that hypopharyngeal SCCs presenting high levels of HLTF have a worse prognosis. The quantitative determination of HLTF in hypopharyngeal SCCs was an independent prognostic marker alongside tumour node metastasis staging. HNSCCs expressed the truncated HLTF variant lacking the domains involved in DNA repair.
Capouillez
Aurélie
A
Laboratories of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons-Hainaut, Mons, Belgium.
Debauve
Gael
G
Decaestecker
Christine
C
Filleul
Olivier
O
Chevalier
Dominique
D
Mortuaire
Geoffrey
G
Coppée
Frederic
F
Leroy
Xavier
X
Belayew
Alexandra
A
Saussez
Sven
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C100023:HLTF protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors