title: The helicase-like transcription factor is a strong predictor of recurrence in hypopharyngeal but not in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons-Hainaut, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capouillez
authors.forename: Gael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Debauve
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Decaestecker
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Filleul
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mortuaire
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coppée
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belayew
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saussez
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C100023:HLTF protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors