KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α gene expression in laryngeal small cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Small cell carcinoma has the worst prognosis of all laryngeal neoplasms. In order to further characterise this tumour, with a view to development of new therapeutic approaches, we report the results of KIT gene and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α gene expression analysis, for two extremely rare cases of primary small cell carcinoma of the larynx.


METHODS
Case reports, including immunohistochemical study, and review of the literature.


RESULTS
We present two patients with laryngeal small cell carcinoma, who died from tumour metastasis to the lungs and brain despite aggressive treatment. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positive reactions for KIT gene expression and platelet-derived growth factor α gene expression in patient one, and for KIT gene expression in patient two. Molecular genetic analysis, using polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing, identified no mutations of the KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor α genes.


CONCLUSIONS
Although further investigation is necessary regarding KIT gene expression and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α gene expression in laryngeal small cell carcinoma, the reported results suggest that these genes may be significant in the development of molecular targeted therapy.
Department of Otolaryngology, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan. kanatake@omiya.jichi.ac.jp
T
T
Kanazawa
M
M
Nokubi
K
K
Takizawa
S
S
Matsuzawa
A
A
Shinnabe
H
H
Mineta
Y
Y
Iino
D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics*
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit