Overexpression of mRNA in head and neck carcinoma and association with response to vinorelbine.

gene encodes the hepatoma upregulated protein (HURP), a microtubule associated protein regulating mitotic spindle dynamics, which promotes chromosomal congression and alignment during mitosis, with a potential role in tumorigenesis. In the present study, mRNA expression was investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Primary OPSCC tumors from 107 patients and 48 adjacent normal tissues, as well as 12 respiratory tract cancer cell lines (9 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, 2 lung cancer and 1 normal bronchial) were utilised in the present study. mRNA expression levels of were higher in malignant OPSCC tissues compared with in normal mucosa (P<1×10) and significantly associated with sex and smoking status (P<0.0001). Vinorelbine toxicity at half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) was measured in the 11 cancer cell lines using an MTT assay. Sensitivity to vinorelbine was significantly correlated with HURP expression (r=0.636; P=0.035). The data indicated that overexpression is frequent in OPSCC tissues and associated with smoking. The correlation between mRNA expression and vinorelbine response suggests that HURP is a potential modulator of vinorelbine response; therefore, it should be explored for its possible predictive value for the efficiency of vinorelbine treatment in this type of cancer.