두경부 편평세포암종에서 염증매개물질과 상피-간엽 이행

Abstract

It has been increasingly recognized that tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumor progression as well as oncogenesis. Various proinflammatory mediators contribute to tumor proliferation, neoangiogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis, and resistance to cancer therapy such as hormonal and chemotherapy. Major causes of deaths related to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are cervical node and distant metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was identified to be the key role for mediating tumor invasion and metastasis of carcinomas. Herein the author investigate the relationship between proinflammatory mediator and EMT in HNSCC. The author evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Slug and E-cadherin in relationship with histologic differentiation, clinical stage and nodal status in 146 surgical specimens of HNSCC. There was correlation of increased expression of IL-1β with nodal status, increased expression of COX-2 with histologic differentiation, clinical stage, and nodal status. Increased Slug expression was correlated to histologic differentiation and clinical stage. Decreased E-cadherin expression was correlated to histologic differentiation and nodal status. Significant relation was observed between IL-1β and COX-2. However, significant inverse correlation was observed between Slug and E-cadherin. Significant relation was observed between increased proinflammatory mediator IL-1β/COX-2 expression and increased EMT marker Slug/ E-cadherin expression. These results indicate that proinflammatory mediators IL-1β and COX-2 induce EMT through increase of Slug and decrease of E-cadherin. The present findings suggest some anti-inflammatory agents could be used as an adjuvant treatment modality with anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs in HNSCC. ---------------------------------------------------- Key Words: IL-1β, COX-2, Slug, E-cadherin, EMT, Head, Neck, Squamous cell carcinoma, Prognosis