Gene expression profiling of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and two squamous cell carcinoma cell lines under radio/chemotherapy using cDNA arrays

Molecular signatures associated with clinical outcome in patients with high-risk head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by surgery and radiation

PURPOSE

The local-regional control rate for advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains poor and is unpredictable for a given individual. This study examined whether gene expression patterns developed from tumors from surgicopathologic, criteria-defined, high-risk HNSCC patients could be correlated with clinical outcomes, namely, metastasis or nonrecurrent disease.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Fifteen primary tumors from patients treated with a consistent protocol of surgery followed by radiotherapy were examined. Seven of these tumors were from high-risk patients who developed distant metastasis (DM), and eight tumors were from patients with no recurrence (NR) (median follow-up, 59 months).

RESULTS

Unsupervised clustering of gene expression did not separate the two groups from one another, but when supervised methodologies were applied, 205 genes discriminated the two groups. Within the DM group, genes associated with cell growth and proliferation; DNA replication, recombination, and repair; antiapoptotic pathways; cell adhesion; and angiogenesis were identified. For NR samples, discriminatory genes were associated with the onset of apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that gene expression analysis of surgically excised HNSCC tumors from patients considered at high risk for recurrence has the potential to identify individuals susceptible to metastasis on the basis of distinct gene-expression patterns. These patients would be ideal candidates for testing systemic therapy.

Identification of differentially expressed proteins of gamma-ray irradiated rat intestinal epithelial IEC-6 cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry

To identify proteins involved in the processes of cellular and molecular response to radiation damage repair in intestinal epithelial IEC-6 cells, we comparatively analyzed the proteome of irradiated IEC-6 cells with that of normal cells. A series of methods were used, including two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (Z-DE), PDQuest software analysis of 2-DE gels, peptide mass fingerprinting based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and Swiss-Prot database searching, to separate and identify differentially expressed proteins. Western blotting and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to validate the differentially expressed proteins. Image analysis revealed that averages of 608 +/- 39 and 595 +/- 31 protein spots were detected in normal and irradiated IEC-6 cells, respectively. Sixteen differential protein spots were isolated from gels, and measured with MALDI-TOF-MS. A total of 14 spots yielded good spectra, and 11 spots matched with known proteins after database searching. These proteins were mainly involved in anti-oxidation, metabolism, and protein post-translational processes. Western blotting confirmed that stress-70 protein was down-regulated by gamma-irradiation. Up-regulation of ERP29 was confirmed by RT-PCR, indicating that it is involved in ionizing radiation. The clues provided by the comparative proteome strategy utilized here will shed light on molecular mechanisms of radiation damage repair in intestinal epithelial cells.

Identification of a gene expression signature associated with recurrent disease in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Molecular studies of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) have demonstrated multiple genetic abnormalities such as activation of various oncogenes (Ras, Myc, epidermal growth factor receptor, and cyclin D1), tumor suppressor gene inactivation (TP53 and p16), and loss of heterozygosity at numerous chromosomal locations. Despite these observations, accurate and reliable biomarkers that predict patients at highest risk for local recurrence have yet to be defined. In an effort to identify gene expression signatures that may serve as biomarkers, we studied 41 squamous cell carcinoma tumors (25 primary and 16 locally recurrent) from various anatomical sites and 13 normal oral mucosal biopsy samples from healthy volunteers with microarray analysis using Affymetrix U133A GeneChip arrays. Differentially expressed genes were identified by calculating generalized t tests (P < 0.001) and applying a series of filtering criteria to yield a highly discriminant list of 2890 genes. Hierarchical clustering and image generation using standard software were used to visualize gene expression signatures. Several gene expression signatures were readily identifiable in the HNSCC tumors, including signatures associated with proliferation, extracellular matrix production, cytokine/chemokine expression, and immune response. Of particular interest was the association of a gene expression signature enriched for genes involved in tumor invasion and metastasis with patients experiencing locally recurrent disease. Notably, these tumors also demonstrated a marked absence of an immune response signature suggesting that modulation of tumor-specific immune responses may play a role in local treatment failure. These data provide evidence for a new gene expression-based biomarker of local treatment failure in HNSCC.

Differentially expressed proteins of gamma-ray irradiated mouse intestinal epithelial cells by two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

AIM: To identify the differentially expressed proteins involved in ionizing radiation in mice and to explore new ways for studying radiation-related proteins.

METHODS: Bal B/c mice grouped as sham-irradiation, 3 h and 72 h irradiation were exposed to 9.0Gy single dose of γ-irradiation. Intestinal epithelia were isolated from mice, and total proteins were extracted with urea containing solution. A series of methods were used, including two-dimensional electrophoresis, PDQuest 2-DE software analysis, peptide mass fingerprinting based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and SWISS-PROT database searching, to separate and identify the differential proteins. Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to validate the differentially expressed proteins.

RESULTS: Mouse intestine was severely damaged by 9.0 Gy γ-irradiation. Image analysis of two-dimensional gels revealed that averages of 638 ± 39, 566 ± 32 and 591 ± 29 protein spots were detected in 3 groups, respectively, and the majority of these protein spots were matched. About 360 protein spots were matched between normal group and 3 h irradiation group, and the correlation coefficient was 0.78 by correlation analysis of gels. Also 312 protein spots matched between normal group and 72 h irradiation group, and 282 protein spots between 3 h and 72 h irradiation groups. Twenty-eight differential protein spots were isolated from gels, digested with trypsin, and measured with MALDI-TOF-MS. A total of 25 spots yielded good spectra, and 19 spots matched known proteins after database searching. These proteins were mainly involved in anti-oxidation, metabolism, signal transduction, and protein post-translational processes. Western-blotting confirmed that enolase was up-regulated by γ-irradiation. Up-regulation of peroxiredoxin I was verified by applying RT-PCR technique, but no change occurred in Q8VC72.

CONCLUSION: These differentially expressed proteins might play important roles when mouse intestine was severely injured by γ-irradiation. It is suggested that differential proteomic analysis may be a useful tool to study the proteins involved in radiation damage of mouse intestinal epithelia.