title: Gain of hTERC: a genetic marker of malignancy in oral potentially malignant lesions.
abstract: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral cancer, and major efforts is being made to identify molecular markers capable to differentiate oral potentially malignant lesions (OPMLs) with indolent course from lesions with aggressive behavior. We undertook a study to evaluate if gain of the human telomerase RNA component (hTERC) gene in OPMLs could indicate lesions at high risk of developing OSCC. The study was performed on 30 OPMLs with long-term follow-up using a dual-color interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for hTERC status. Progression to malignancy was observed in 9 of 10 cases harboring hTERC gain and in 1 of 20 cases retaining a normal copy number of hTERC (P < .0001). Combining morphological grading and FISH analysis, all the cases with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or carcinoma in situ harboring hTERC amplification progressed to OSCC, whereas none of the low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions without hTERC gain progressed. Intermediate situations occurred. The data suggest that precise morphological evaluation together with FISH assessment for hTERC gain might pave the way to stratify OPMLs into high-risk and low-risk categories and could be helpful in selecting the most appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Milan Italy 20147.
authors.forename: Tshering
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dorji
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomic Pathology of the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, of the University of Bologna, Bologna Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Milan Italy 20147.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fellegara
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Milan Italy 20147.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabba
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Milan Italy 20147.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grazioli
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Milan Italy 20147.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Repetti
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Milan Italy 20147.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcialis
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomic Pathology of the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, of the University of Bologna, Bologna Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peluso
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomic Pathology of the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, of the University of Bologna, Bologna Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Ruzza
authors.affiliation: Opertative Unit of Maxillo-facial Surgery, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomic Pathology of the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, of the University of Bologna, Bologna Italy. Electronic address: mariapia.foschini@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C422952:telomerase RNA; D012313:RNA; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: 3q26; FISH; Genetic marker; Human telomerase RNA component (hTERC); Oral potentially malignant lesions (OPMLs); Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)