High mobility group HMGI(Y) protein expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that increased expression level of the high mobility group I (HMGI(Y)) is closely associated with malignant transformation in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), and the measurement of HMGI(Y) levels in HNSCCs may be useful as a prognostic marker.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether HMGI overexpression is observed in HNSCCs, and its value as a prognostic marker in HNSCCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HMGI(Y) expression was determined at the protein level by immunohistochemisty using a HMGI(Y)-specific antibody and RT-PCR in 10 surgically resected specimens of non-neoplastic tissue (normal palatal tissue) and 40 HNSCCs. We also evaluated the association of HMGI(Y) overexpression within clinicopathologic parameters, i.e. clinical stage, pathologic grade, status of cervical lymph node metastasis, recurrence rate.

RESULTS

Expression of HMGI(Y) by immunohistochemical staining was observed in 35 of 40 (87.5%) HNSCC samples, whereas normal mucosa and/or the mucosa adjacent to the tumor tissue showed negative or weakly positive staining (p<0.05). Semi-quantification of HMGI(Y) by RT-PCR was 2.98+/-2.24 in cancer and 0.47+/-0.25 in normal tissue (p<0.001). High expression of HMGI(Y) was observed in recurrent cases, compared with non-recurrent cases (p<0.05). However, no significant correlation was observed between the levels of HMGI(Y) expression and other clinical factors such as clinical stage, pathologic grade, and status of cervical lymph node metastasis.