Prognostic significance of Flotillin1 expression in clinically N0 tongue squamous cell cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to investigate the clinical and prognostic significance of Flotillin1 (FLOT1) in clinically N0 tongue squamous cell cancer (cN0 TSCC).


METHODS
Real-time PCR and Western blotting analyses were carried out to examine FLOT1 expression in four tongue squamous cell cancer cell lines, primary cultured normal tongue epithelial cells, and eight matched pairs of oral tongue cancer samples and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples from the same patient. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine FLOT1 protein expression in paraffin-embedded tissues from 181 cN0 TSCC patients. Statistical analyses evaluated the diagnostic value and the associations of FLOT1 expression with clinical parameters.


RESULTS
FLOT1 mRNA and protein levels were upregulated in tongue squamous cell cancer cell lines and cancerous tissues compared with that in TEC and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples. The level of FLOT1 protein was positively correlated with clinical stage (P = 0.001), T classification (P = 0.009), N classification (P = 0.001) and recurrence (P = 0.018). Patients with higher FLOT1 expression had shorter overall survival times.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that overexpression of FLOT1 can be found in patients with higher pathological stage, T classification, N classification or recurrence. FLOT1 expression is associated with cN0 TSCC progression and may be valuable for the prognostic evaluation of cN0 TSCC.
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China ; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou, China.
Huan
H
Li
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China ; Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou, China.
Yan
Y
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China ; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou, China.
Shu-Wei
SW
Chen
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China ; Department of Operation Theater Services, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou, China.
Feng-Jiao
FJ
Li
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, China.
Shi-Min
SM
Zhuang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China ; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou, China.
Li-Ping
LP
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China ; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou, China.
Ji
J
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China ; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou, China.
Ming
M
Song
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D008565:Membrane Proteins; C106354:flotillins
FLOT1; Flotillin1; clinically N0 tongue squamous cell cancer; prognosis