Elevated gastrin-releasing peptide receptor mRNA expression in buccal mucosa: association with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Expression of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is elevated in mucosa adjacent to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) compared with mucosa from cancer-free controls, suggesting elevated GRPR expression may indicate presence of HNSCC. METHODS:We measured GRPR mRNA levels in histologically normal buccal mucosa from 65 surgical patients with HNSCC and 75 cancer-free control subjects using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We tested for association between GRPR expression and HNSCC and evaluated differences in patient progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS:Buccal GRPR expression was higher in cases but not controls who were active smokers (p = .04). High GRPR expression was associated with HNSCC (odds ratio [OR] = 3.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-10.93), even after adjustment for age, sex, tobacco use, and sample storage time. PFS did not differ between patients with HNSCC with high versus low GRPR expression (p = .22). CONCLUSION:Elevated buccal GRPR expression was significantly associated with HNSCC independent of known risk factors but was not an indicator of disease prognosis.

SUBMITTER: Egloff AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3553276 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature