Project description:The aim of the present study was to evaluate miRNAs as response predictors in FFPE head and neck samples from a phase II clinical trial designed to evaluate the feasibility of delivering cisplatin concurrent with radiotherapy after an induction chemotherapy (IC) regimen based on the combination of cisplatin plus paclitaxel in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. For this purpose, we assessed the global miRNA expression profile of 15 HNSCC patients undergoing treatment, in order to identify miRNAs able to segregate resistant tumors from the sensitive ones, thus serving as markers to predict response. The results showed four miRNAs (miR-21, miR-494, miR-720 and miR-923) that were overexpressed in HNSCC FFPE samples.
Project description:The purpose of our study was to identify expression signatures and molecular markers associated with tumor recurrence and survival in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We studied the expression profile of 63 pre-treatment tumor biopsies obtained from locally advanced HNSCCs treated with standard treatments. Cluster analysis identified three tumor subtypes associated with significant differences in local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), progression free-survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Tumor subtype 1, associated with short LRFS, PFS and OS, showed features of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and undifferentiation. It also overexpressed genes involved in cell adhesion, NF-κB and integrin signalling. Tumor subtype 3, associated with longer LRFS, PFS and OS, showed a high degree of differentiation and overexpressed genes located in chromosomal regions 19q13 and 1q21. Tumor subtype 2, which had a clinical outcome intermediate between subtype 1 and subtype 3, overexpressed genes involved in branching morphogenesis. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis identified a subset of genes associated with local recurrence and survival. We validated the association between gene cluster classification and patient survival using two HNSCC data sets obtained from two independent patient cohorts. Finally, using the gene expression profile of the pre-treatment tumor biopsy, we generated a gene expression signature that could predict survival in locally advanced patients.
Project description:The predictive value of microRNAs for the efficacy of chemoradiation (CRTX) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) was evaluated. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor material was collected from patients with locally advanced HNSCC treated within the ARO-0401 phase III trial with radiotherapy in combination with either 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin (CDDP-CRTX) or 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin C (MMC-CRTX).
Project description:Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are commonly treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy/CRT or surgery. The purpose of our study was to identify expression signatures and molecular markers able to anticipate tumor response to therapy and clinical outcome. We performed a study with 63 pre-treatment tumor biopsies from locally advanced HNSCC treated with either of the two standard treatments. Cluster analysis identified three tumor subtypes associated with significant differences in local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and overall survival (OS). Tumor subtype 1, associated with low LRFS and OS, showed features of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and undifferentiation. It also overexpressed genes related to cell adhesion, NF-κB and integrin signalling pathways. Tumor subtype 3, associated with a high LRFS and OS, showed a high degree of differentiation and overexpressed genes located in chromosome regions 19q13 and 1q21. Tumor subtype 2, with a LRFS that was similar to subtype 3 and an OS similar to subtype 1, overexpressed genes involved in branching morphogenesis. ROC analysis identified genes associated with local recurrence and survival. Using qRT-PCR we confirmed the association of RAB25, DUOX1 and THBS1 expression with LRFS and OS. Patients whose tumors displayed high RAB25 or DUOX1 mRNA levels had longer LRFS and OS than patients with low mRNA levels. In contrast, patients bearing tumors with high THBS1 levels had a shorter OS than patients with low THBS1 levels. RAB25, DUOX1 and THBS1 could be good molecular markers to identify patients who would benefit from genotoxic treatment. Sixty three pretreatment HNSCC biopsies and five normal mucosas were assayed using the Affymetrix HG-U133A2.0 array.
Project description:Gene expression profiling to predict outcome after chemoradiation in head and neck cancer Purpose. The goal of the present study was to improve prediction of outcome after chemoradiation in advanced head and neck cancer using gene expression analysis. Materials and Methods. We collected 92 biopsies from untreated head and neck cancer patients subsequently given cisplatin-based chemoradiation (RADPLAT) for advanced squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). After RNA extraction and labeling we performed dye swap experiments using 35k oligo-microarrays. Supervised analyses were performed to create classifiers to predict local control, locoregional control and disease recurrence. Published gene sets with prognostic value in other studies were also tested. Results. Using supervised classification on the whole series, gene sets separating good and poor outcome could be found for all end-points. However, when splitting tumors into training and validation groups, no robust classifiers could be found. Also previously published signatures with prognostic value have been tested. Conclusion. Gene sets can be found with predictive potential for locoregional control after combined radiation and chemotherapy in HNSCC. How treatment-specific these gene sets are needs further study.
Project description:Anaemia negatively affects the prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study investigates whether anaemia is associated to genetic changes and whether these changes predict the clinical outcome.
Project description:The risk of locoregional or distant failure in advanced HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients is high. However, no suitable markers for stratification are clinically available. Thus, we aimed to identify a microRNA(miRNA)-signature predicting disease recurrence. For this purpose the miRNA profiles from 162 HNSCC samples were analysed with regard to identification of a low-complex porgnostic signature. The data set consists of a discovery dataset (n=85) and a validation dataset (n=77). The study resulted in a prognostic 5-miRNA signature significantly predicting the relevant clinical endpoint freedom from recurrence.
Project description:Microarrays were used to examine gene expression differences between human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (FaDu, UTSCC8, UTSCC42a) grown in culture in comparison to a normal oral epithelial cell line. Gene expression data was integrated with global protein expression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and conditioned media to identify secreted protein markers up-regulated at the mRNA level in cancer cells versus the normal cell line. Total RNA obtained from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and a normal oral epithelial cell line
Project description:Distant metastasis is a major factor associated with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but little is known of its molecular mechanisms. New markers that predict clinical outcome, in particular the ability of primary tumors to develop metastatic tumors, are urgently needed. Here, we identified neurotensin, highly expressed in HNSCCs in comparison with normal tissues, as an invasion-promoting factor in HNSCC by using microarray analysis of clinical samples. Indeed, neurotensin overexpression associated with lymph node metastasis of neck, and tumors exhibiting neurotensin overexpression had a poor distant metastasis-free survival rate. In HNSCC cells which expressed neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), neurotensin promoted cellular invasion, migration, and induction of matrix metalloproteinases transcripts. Disruption of NTSR1 signaling by silencing RNA caused the reversion of the invasion of HNSCC cells. By further microarray analysis using neurotensin-treated cells, neurotensin caused increased expression of genes implicated in tumor progression and metastasis including cell growth, migration, invasion, adhesion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Our findings have revealed a critical role of neurotensin/NTSR1 for invasion and migration in the metastatic process of HNSCC. This study raises the possibility that neurotensin/NTSR1 could be used as a possible predictive marker and a molecular therapeutic target in the antimetastatic strategies of HNSCC. Keywords: Identification of a novel therapeutic target for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas A total of 21 primary HNSCC samples were obtained from patients who underwent tumor resection at Chiba University Hospital (Chiba, Japan). 21 samples of normal-appearing mucosa at the margin of the surgical resection several centimeters from the tumor were also collected and designated histologically normal mucosa. 21 HNSCCs and paired normal tissues were used for microarray experiment. The clinicopathological grade was classified according to the criteria of the Japan Society for Head and Neck Cancer. The Ethics Committee of Chiba University approved our study, and informed consent was obtained from all patients for use of their tissue samples and clinical data. Tissue samples were immediately snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C until use.
Project description:Distant metastasis is a major factor associated with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but little is known of its molecular mechanisms. New markers that predict clinical outcome, in particular the ability of primary tumors to develop metastatic tumors, are urgently needed. Here, we identified neurotensin, highly expressed in HNSCCs in comparison with normal tissues, as an invasion-promoting factor in HNSCC by using microarray analysis of clinical samples. Indeed, neurotensin overexpression associated with lymph node metastasis of neck, and tumors exhibiting neurotensin overexpression had a poor distant metastasis-free survival rate. In HNSCC cells which expressed neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), neurotensin promoted cellular invasion, migration, and induction of matrix metalloproteinases transcripts. Disruption of NTSR1 signaling by silencing RNA caused the reversion of the invasion of HNSCC cells. By further microarray analysis using neurotensin-treated cells, neurotensin caused increased expression of genes implicated in tumor progression and metastasis including cell growth, migration, invasion, adhesion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Our findings have revealed a critical role of neurotensin/NTSR1 for invasion and migration in the metastatic process of HNSCC. This study raises the possibility that neurotensin/NTSR1 could be used as a possible predictive marker and a molecular therapeutic target in the antimetastatic strategies of HNSCC. Keywords: Identification of a novel therapeutic target for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas