title: LDOC1 gene expression in two patients  with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. Risk factors for this cancer include tobacco and alcohol use, ultraviolet light exposure, and viral infection. Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, with a prevalence of 3% in persons over the age of 65 years. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death machinery pivotal for normal development, the establishment of highly organized neuronal circuitry, and the elimination of cancer cells. It has been suggested that increased expression of proapoptotic genes is associated with head tumors. One of these genes is the leucine zipper, down-regulated in cancer 1 (LDOC1) gene.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two interesting cases of a 79-year-old man and a 98-year-old woman, both with Parkinson's disease and well-differentiated multiple HNSCC, in whom we evaluated the possible differential expression of LDOC1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that LDOC1 gene expression was increased in both patients compared with three male and three female controls. Conclusions. These findings suggest that apoptosis may play a pathogenetic role in HNSCC.
authors: Laboratory of Cytogenetics, Oasi Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging, Troina, Enna.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Salemi
authors: Domenica
authors: D
authors: Giuffrida
authors: Maria C
authors: MC
authors: Giuffrida
authors: Pier Franco
authors: PF
authors: Soma
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Rolfo
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Cimino
authors: Rosita A
authors: RA
authors: Condorelli
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Castiglione
authors: Sandro
authors: S
authors: La Vignera
authors: Aldo E
authors: AE
authors: Calogero
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D024581:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating) / Q000378:metabolism; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016350:Leucine Zippers; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; C120625:LDOC1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D007980:Levodopa; D024581:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating)