title: PRAME expression in head and neck cancer correlates with markers of poor prognosis and might help in selecting candidates for retinoid chemoprevention in pre-malignant lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  PRAME (Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma) is a tumor-associated antigen recognized by immunocytes, and it induces cytotoxic T cell-mediated responses in melanoma. PRAME expression in tumors interferes with retinoic acid receptor (RAR) signaling thus promoting tumor progression. Here, we study PRAME expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to determine its potential clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  PRAME expression in HNSCC was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays of primary tumors (n=53), metastatic lymph nodes (n=8) and normal oral mucosa (n=11). Biopsies of dysplastic oral lesions (n=12) were also examined. PRAME expression levels in tissues were correlated with markers of poor prognosis in HNSCC. PRAME mRNA in HNSCC cell lines and in normal immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line) was measured by qRT-PCR, and the protein expression by flow cytometry and western blots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PRAME was expressed in HNSCC cell lines and HNSCC lesions. PRAME expression in dysplastic mucosa was variable. No or only weak expression was found in normal cells or tissues. PRAME expression levels significantly correlated with the tumor grade, size, nodal involvement and the clinical status of HNSCC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated PRAME expression associates with clinicopathologic markers of poor outcome in HNSCC and might identify potential candidates with pre-cancerous lesions for chemoprevention with retinoids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Miroslaw J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Szczepanski
authors.forename: Albert B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: DeLeo
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Łuczak
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molinska-Glura
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Misiak
authors.forename: Bronislawa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szarzynska
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dworacki
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zagor
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rozwadowska
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurpisz
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krzeski
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kruk-Zagajewska
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kopec
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banaszewski
authors.forename: Theresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whiteside
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018890:Chemoprevention; D017931:DNA Primers; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012176:Retinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; C404944:PRAME protein, human; D012176:Retinoids