title: Correlation of tumor marker expression with nodal disease burden in metastatic head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between the percentage of metastatic tumor present in lymph nodes resected from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) and level of expression of 3 marker genes: pemphigus vulgaris antigen (PVA), parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), and tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 1 (TACSTD1). In addition, we investigated whether the level of expression of these 3 markers was associated with clinical outcomes for patients with HNSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of previously harvested patient samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  The University of Pittsburgh.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 448 lymph nodes from 92 patients with HNSCC were evaluated for expression of the gene markers PVA, PTHrP, and TACSTD1 using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Confirmation of metastasis was determined by histologic examination. The expression level of these markers versus tumor percentage was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 3 markers were studied independently and were associated with tumor percentage in metastatic lymph nodes. PVA had the strongest correlation, followed by PTHrP and then TACSTD1. PVA levels had a trend toward association with clinical outcome, specifically time to death caused by cancer, but this was confounded by tumor stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All 3 tumor gene markers were associated with percentage of tumor cells in metastatic lymph nodes. PVA had the strongest correlation. PVA may add prognostic utility beyond pathologic staging, but this requires analysis of a larger cohort. Prospective studies of tumor volume in metastatic nodes should determine a lower limit threshold of molecular marker detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Sumita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gooding
authors.forename: Tony E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ferris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001324:Autoantigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001324:Autoantigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C071894:DSG3 protein, human; D051184:Desmoglein 3; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm
keywords: RT-PCR; gene markers; nodal metastases