Expression of the Sonic hedgehog pathway in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and the mucosa of the head and neck.
BACKGROUND
Activation of the hedgehog pathway may contribute to carcinogenesis. This study characterizes the expression pattern in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and the head and neck.


METHODS
Tissue microarrays were constructed with samples of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and the head and neck. All tissue samples were immunohistochemically stained for 7 Hedgehog pathway molecules.


RESULTS
Significant (p < .0001) overexpression of all evaluated molecules could be observed in the tumor samples compared with healthy control tissues. Expression of Gli-2 showed significant upregulation and that of Smoothened and Patched significant downregulation in head and neck compared with skin carcinoma. High expression of Sonic hedgehog correlates significantly (p = .001) with poor overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Hedgehog signaling is differentially regulated in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and the head and neck. Sonic hedgehog expression may serve as a prognostic factor in patients with head and neck cancer.
Schneider
Sven
S
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Thurnher
Dietmar
D
Kloimstein
Philipp
P
Leitner
Verena
V
Petzelbauer
Peter
P
Pammer
Johannes
J
Brunner
Markus
M
Erovic
Boban M
BM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000075746:Zinc Finger Protein Gli2
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C082593:GLI2 protein, human; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000075746:Zinc Finger Protein Gli2