Expression of protein tyrosine kinases in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology 2005-07, Vol.124 (1), p.71-76
• Main Authors: ONGKEKO, Weg M, ALTUNA, Xabier, WEISMAN, Robert A, WANG-RODRIGUEZ, Jessica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Disease-Free Survival; Head and Neck Neoplasms - enzymology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - mortality; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell - enzymology; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell - mortality; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell - pathology; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - biosynthesis; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit - biosynthesis; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - biosynthesis; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor - biosynthesis; Tumors
• ISSN: 0002-9173; 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1309/btln5wtmj3pcnrrc

Protein tyrosine kinases (TKs) are overexpressed in many carcinomas and sarcomas. We studied the expression of the following TKs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), c-kit, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and a serine-threonine kinase, Akt. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor blocks from 44 consecutive patients with primary HNSCC and 5 specimens of benign pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa were retrieved for immunohistochemical analysis. Of the specimens, 38 had enough material to stain for all 4 antibodies. The study included 21 pharyngeal (base of tongue, 14; tonsil, 6; soft palate, 1), 16 laryngeal, and 1 floor of the mouth carcinoma. All 4 kinases in the tumor samples were expressed highly (PDGFR, 95%-100%; EGFR, 38%-43%; c-kit, 50%-86%; p-Akt, 57%-81%), with EGFR, c-kit, and p-Akt significantly higher than in benign samples. None of the kinase expressions correlated with disease-free survival. The expression of the kinases raises the possibility of treatment of HNSCC by tyrosine and serine-threonine kinase inhibitors.