Project description:Background: The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal carcinomas has increased rapidly over the last thirty years. These tumours behave as a distinct biological entity when compared to classical smoking- and alcohol-related disease. To gain more information regarding the pathway through pre-malignancy in HPV positive/HPV negative oropharyngeal carcinoma (OSCC), we investigated genomewide expression profiles in histopathologically confirmed tumour samples with site-matched normal epithelial controls. Methods: Twenty-four patients with primary oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (4 with stage III and 20 with stage IV disease) were included in this prospective clinical trial (UKCRN11945). The tumour tissues were each assessed by a histopathologist with HPV status and typing by p16INK4A, consensus PGMY PCR, type-specific HPV16 DNA & RNA PCR and DNA sequencing. Fresh tissue samples were subjected to whole transcriptome analysis using the Illumina Bead Array (~47,000 transcripts) and the results validated with quantitative Real Time-PCR (qRT-PCR). In a separate cohort of twelve OSCC patients, laser capture micro-dissection of formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue allowed RNA extraction from regions of in situ malignant change (with matched normal and invasive SCC samples). Results: The majority of OSCC patients (28/36) displayed evidence of high risk HPV positivity. Predictable fold changes of RNA expression in HPV-associated disease included multiple transcripts within the p53 oncogenic pathway (e.g. CDKN2A/CCND1). Other candidate transcripts found to have altered levels of expression in this study have not previously been established in HPV16 associated oropharyngeal cancer. These were involved in cell differentiation, proliferation and invasion and demonstrated considerable overlap with expression analysis data in other oncogenic pathways (SFRP1/CRCT1/DLG2/SYCP2/CRNN). SYCP2 showed the highest consistent fold change from baseline in both fresh frozen and FFPE tissue (qRT-PCR fresh frozen tissue [P<0.04]; FFPE tissue pre-invasive [P<0.01]; FFPE tissue invasive [P<0.01]), and aberrant expression of this meiosis-specific protein may contribute to genetic instability during HPV-associated cancer development. Conclusion: Investigation of differentially expressed genes in HPV-positive tumours may reveal unique pathways that can explain their different natural history and biological properties. The data from this study reveal SYCP2 (amongst others) as a potential biomarker in HPV positive oropharyngeal carcinoma, and if corroborated on a larger scale, may facilitate the development of a non-invasive screening tool. Twenty four samples (12 matched invasive oropharyngeal carcinoma and normal epithelial controls).
Project description:Detection of HPV16 RNA expression of separately for each gene using RNA sequencing data from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Project description:Oncogene expressing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is found in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). HPV16 drives carcinogenesis by inactivating p53 and pRb with the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, reflected by a low level of mutations in TP53 and allelic loss at 3p, 9p and 17p, genetic changes frequently found in HNSCCs of non-viral etiology. We hypothesize that two pathways to HNSCC exist: one determined by HPV16 and one by environmental carcinogens. To define the critical genetic events in these two pathways, we now present a detailed genome analysis of HNSCC with and without HPV16 involvement by employing high resolution micro-array comparative genomic hybridization. Four regions showed alterations in HPV-negative tumors that were absent in HPV-positive tumors: losses at 3p11.2-26.3, 5q11.2-35.2, 9p21.1-24, and gains/amplifications at 11q12.1-13.4. Also, HPV16-negative tumors demonstrated loss at 18q12.1-23, in contrast to gain in HPV16-positive tumors. Seven regions were altered at high frequency (>33%) in both groups: gains at 3q22.2-qter, 5p15.2-pter, 8p11.2-qter, 9q22-34.1, 20p-20q and losses at 11q14.1-qter and 13q11-33. These data show that HNSCC arising by environmental carcinogens are characterized by genetic alterations that differ from those observed in HPV16-induced HNSCC, and most likely occur early in carcinogenesis. A number of genetic changes are shared in both tumor groups and can be considered crucial in the later stages of HNSCC progression. Tumor DNA is isolated from fresh frozen tissue. Tumor DNA is enriched by microdissection. Reference DNA is isolated from blood of normal individuals of the opposit gender.
Project description:Oncogene expressing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is found in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). HPV16 drives carcinogenesis by inactivating p53 and pRb with the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, reflected by a low level of mutations in TP53 and allelic loss at 3p, 9p and 17p, genetic changes frequently found in HNSCCs of non-viral etiology. We hypothesize that two pathways to HNSCC exist: one determined by HPV16 and one by environmental carcinogens. To define the critical genetic events in these two pathways, we now present a detailed genome analysis of HNSCC with and without HPV16 involvement by employing high resolution micro-array comparative genomic hybridization. Four regions showed alterations in HPV-negative tumors that were absent in HPV-positive tumors: losses at 3p11.2-26.3, 5q11.2-35.2, 9p21.1-24, and gains/amplifications at 11q12.1-13.4. Also, HPV16-negative tumors demonstrated loss at 18q12.1-23, in contrast to gain in HPV16-positive tumors. Seven regions were altered at high frequency (>33%) in both groups: gains at 3q22.2-qter, 5p15.2-pter, 8p11.2-qter, 9q22-34.1, 20p-20q and losses at 11q14.1-qter and 13q11-33. These data show that HNSCC arising by environmental carcinogens are characterized by genetic alterations that differ from those observed in HPV16-induced HNSCC, and most likely occur early in carcinogenesis. A number of genetic changes are shared in both tumor groups and can be considered crucial in the later stages of HNSCC progression.
Project description:Background: The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal carcinomas has increased rapidly over the last thirty years. These tumours behave as a distinct biological entity when compared to classical smoking- and alcohol-related disease. To gain more information regarding the pathway through pre-malignancy in HPV positive/HPV negative oropharyngeal carcinoma (OSCC), we investigated genomewide expression profiles in histopathologically confirmed tumour samples with site-matched normal epithelial controls. Methods: Twenty-four patients with primary oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (4 with stage III and 20 with stage IV disease) were included in this prospective clinical trial (UKCRN11945). The tumour tissues were each assessed by a histopathologist with HPV status and typing by p16INK4A, consensus PGMY PCR, type-specific HPV16 DNA & RNA PCR and DNA sequencing. Fresh tissue samples were subjected to whole transcriptome analysis using the Illumina Bead Array (~47,000 transcripts) and the results validated with quantitative Real Time-PCR (qRT-PCR). In a separate cohort of twelve OSCC patients, laser capture micro-dissection of formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue allowed RNA extraction from regions of in situ malignant change (with matched normal and invasive SCC samples). Results: The majority of OSCC patients (28/36) displayed evidence of high risk HPV positivity. Predictable fold changes of RNA expression in HPV-associated disease included multiple transcripts within the p53 oncogenic pathway (e.g. CDKN2A/CCND1). Other candidate transcripts found to have altered levels of expression in this study have not previously been established in HPV16 associated oropharyngeal cancer. These were involved in cell differentiation, proliferation and invasion and demonstrated considerable overlap with expression analysis data in other oncogenic pathways (SFRP1/CRCT1/DLG2/SYCP2/CRNN). SYCP2 showed the highest consistent fold change from baseline in both fresh frozen and FFPE tissue (qRT-PCR fresh frozen tissue [P<0.04]; FFPE tissue pre-invasive [P<0.01]; FFPE tissue invasive [P<0.01]), and aberrant expression of this meiosis-specific protein may contribute to genetic instability during HPV-associated cancer development. Conclusion: Investigation of differentially expressed genes in HPV-positive tumours may reveal unique pathways that can explain their different natural history and biological properties. The data from this study reveal SYCP2 (amongst others) as a potential biomarker in HPV positive oropharyngeal carcinoma, and if corroborated on a larger scale, may facilitate the development of a non-invasive screening tool.
Project description:The aim of this study was to characterize copy number alterations (CNA) in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The study data were used to test associations of CNA signatures with patient survival and includes CNA data from hypopharyngeal, laryngeal and HPV-negative oropharyngeal HNSCC.
Project description:Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide with an annual mortality rate of 200,000. About 90% of HNC can be classified as head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), of which approximately 75% are attributed to alcohol and tobacco consumption and 25 are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), predominantly HPV16. HPV-associated OPC have better prognosis and a more favorable response to therapy as compared to HPV-negative tumors. Differences in risk factors, age of presentation, clinical behavior and gene expression profiles indicate that HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors develop via different molecular mechanisms and are biologically distinct. This study aimed to compare the gene expression profiles of HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC) and normal benign uvula/tonsil tissues and determine what biological processes and pathways are affected in HPV-negative OPCs. ANALYSIS 6: Two-condition, one-color experiment: HPV-negative oropharyngeal tumor samples and normal benign uvula/tonsil tissues. Biological replicates: 16 HPV negtive samples and 4 Normal samples.
Project description:DNA methylation analysis in oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma (OPSCC) samples and oropharyngeal non-cancerous mucosa samples. Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across 485,577 CpG sites. Total samples included 89 OPSCC samples and 5 non-cancerous mucosa samples.
Project description:DNA methylation analysis in oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma (OPSCC) samples and oropharyngeal non-cancerous mucosa samples. Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip Kit was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across more than 850,000 CpG sites. Total samples included 89 OPSCC samples and 5 non-cancerous mucosa samples.
Project description:To explore the circRNA expression profiles during the development and progression of cervical cancer, we performed RNA sequencing analysis with ribosomal RNA-depleted in HPV negative normal cervical epithelium, HPV16 positive normal cervical epithelium, HPV16 positive high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and HPV16 positive cervical squamous cell carcinoma tissues,6 cases in each group.Totally 66868 circRNAs were identified (Back-spliced junctions reads≥1)