Association of pituitary tumor transforming gene expression with early oral tumorigenesis and malignant progression of precancerous lesions.
BACKGROUND
Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG1) is overexpressed in many types of human cancers and is involved in late-stage tumor progression. The role of PTTG1 in initiating tumorigenesis is unclear.


METHODS
PTTG1 expression was assessed in precancerous lesions and squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity (OSCC). The association between the protein expression and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. The expression level of PTTG1 upon carcinogen treatment was also investigated.


RESULTS
PTTG1 was overexpressed in both precancerous lesions and OSCC. The expression of PTTG1 was associated with carcinogen exposure in vivo and in vitro. PTTG1 overexpression was an independent factor for oral cancer development in precancerous lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides the first evidence that PTTG1 is involved in the early stages of oral tumorigenesis. Carcinogen exposure may cause the initial induction of PTTG1 expression in oral precancerous lesions. PTTG1 overexpression is a potential prognosticator for malignant progression of oral precancerous lesions.
Department of Otolaryngology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Li-Jen
LJ
Liao
Yi-Hsin
YH
Hsu
Chuan-Hang
CH
Yu
Chun-Pin
CP
Chiang
Jing-Ru
JR
Jhan
Lien-Cheng
LC
Chang
Jing-Jer
JJ
Lin
Pei-Jen
PJ
Lou
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D064249:Securin; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D064249:Securin; C578002:pituitary tumor-transforming protein 1, human