title: Patients with high c-MYC-expressing squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue show better survival than those with low- and medium-expressing tumours.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  c-MYC is a potent oncoprotein with roles in a wide range of cellular processes such as differentiation, apoptosis and growth control. Deregulation of the MYC gene is commonly seen in human tumours resulting in overexpression of the protein. Here we studied expression of c-MYC in correlation to clinical outcome in patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was used to identify c-MYC in a group of 104 tongue squamous cell carcinomas with an antibody directed against the N-terminal part of the protein. Staining was evaluated by multiplying the percentage of c-MYC-expressing cells with staining intensity, giving a quick score for each tumour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 104 tumours expressed c-MYC at varying levels. Quantitation according to per cent of positive cells and staining intensity revealed that most (15/21; 71%) high-expressing tumours were seen in males. Within the group of high c-MYC-expressing tumours, the majority were alive 2 and 5 years after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings show that expression of c-MYC has prognostic value in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, and could be useful in choice of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Klas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strindlund
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troiano
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sgaramella
authors.affiliation: RECAMO, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Xiaolian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boldrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Califano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.|RECAMO, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic.|Institut de Génétique Moléculaire, Hôpital St. Louis, Université Paris 7, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fahraeus
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo Lo
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Muzio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ardito
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colella
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tartaro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Universitario di Anatomia Patologica, Seconda Universita' Degli Studi di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences/ ENT, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norberg-Spaak
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences/ ENT, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saadat
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4831-4100
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nylander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C489427:MYC protein, human; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
keywords: c-MYC; radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma; tongue