mRNA Subtype of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Significantly Affects Key Characteristics of Head and Neck Cancer Cells

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) belong among severe and highly complex malignant diseases showing a high level of heterogeneity and consequently also a variance in therapeutic response, regardless of clinical stage. Our study implies that the progression of HNSCC may be supported by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumour microenvironment (TME) and the heterogeneity of this disease may lie in the level of cooperation between CAFs and epithelial cancer cells, as communication between CAFs and epithelial cancer cells seems to be a key factor for the sustained growth of the tumour mass. In this study, we investigated how CAFs derived from tumours of different mRNA subtypes influence the proliferation of cancer cells and their metabolic and biomechanical reprogramming. We also investigated the clinicopathological significance of the expression of these metabolism-related genes in tissue samples of HNSCC patients to identify a possible gene signature typical for HNSCC progression. We found that the right kind of cooperation between cancer cells and CAFs is needed for tumour growth and progression, and only specific mRNA subtypes can support the growth of primary cancer cells or metastases. Specifically, during coculture, cancer cell colony supporting effect and effect of CAFs on cell stiffness of cancer cells are driven by the mRNA subtype of the tumour from which the CAFs are derived. The degree of colony-forming support is reflected in cancer cell glycolysis levels and lactate shuttle-related transporters

Comparison of Helicobacter Pylori Genotypes Obtained from the Oropharynx and Stomach of the Same Individuals -A Pilot Study

R e c e i ve d M a rc h 3 , 2 0 12 ; A c c e p t e d Ju n e 2 5 , 2 0 1 2 . Key words: Helicobacter pylori -Real-time PCR -Genotyping -OropharynxStomach -Comparison Abstract: Helicobacter pylori has been recently detected in the oral cavity and oropharynx. However, the role it plays in oral and oropharyngeal pathogenesis remains unclear. The virulence of H. pylori strains can be distinguished according to the virulence factors genes carried. Our research has been focused on realtime PCR analysis of cagA and vacA genes of H. pylori strains in tonsils and tonsillar squamous cell cancer and their comparison with H. pylori strains obtained fro

Comparison of Helicobacter Pylori Genotypes Obtained from the Oropharynx and Stomach of the Same Individuals – A Pilot Study

Helicobacter pylori has been recently detected in the oral cavity and oropharynx. However, the role it plays in oral and oropharyngeal pathogenesis remains unclear. The virulence of H. pylori strains can be distinguished according to the virulence factors genes carried. Our research has been focused on realtime PCR analysis of cagA and vacA genes of H. pylori strains in tonsils and tonsillar squamous cell cancer and their comparison with H. pylori strains obtained from the gastric mucosa of the same patients. Urea breath test (UBT) test was used to detect a gastric H. pylori infection in 20 patients with previously proven H. pylori in the oropharynx. Genotyping of H. pylori in gastric biopsies was performed in patients with positive gastric infection. Out of 20 patients positive for oropharyngeal H. pylori, 8 were positive for concurrent gastric H. pylori infection. In 6 of them gastric biopsies were obtained. Comparison of oropharyngeal and stomach H. pylori genotypes showed important differences. Four of 6 patients had different H. pylori strains in the oropharynx and stomach. The differences were found in cagA gene as well as in vacA gene. The finding of oral presence of H. pylori without concurrent stomach infection was confirmed using UBT. The results show that more than one H. pylori strain can be present in oropharynx and stomach in the same patient. The oropharyngeal infection seems to be independent to the gastric infection

Galectin-7, will the lectinrsquos activity establish clinical correlations in head and neck squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas?

The human lectin galectin-7 (Gal-7; p53- induced gene-1) has anti- and pro-malignant features in different in vitro models. We tried to clarify relation of its expression to cellular and clinical parameters in head and neck squamous and basal cell carcinomas. Using a non-cross-reactive antibody, immunohistochemical staining in squamous cell epithelia (epidermis, epithelium of oropharynx and larynx) (n = 57), squamous cell carcinomas (n = 47) and lymph node metastases (n = 25), as well as basal cell carcinomas (n = 10) were studied. This monitoring was flanked by processing to assess the level of differentiation (cytokeratins 10 and 14), proliferation (Ki67) and basal lamina formation (collagen IV). The results were correlated with clinical and pathological findings (grading, TNM-staging, extracapsular spread, angio- and lymphangioinvasion, perineural invasion, recurrence and survival). Gal-7 resides in all layers of epithelia with cytoplasmic and nuclear localization in normal specimens. Basal cell carcinomas were devoid of the Gal-7 respective signal. Squamous cell carcinomas were positive, presenting different staining profiles. Intense staining was predominantly found in squamous cell cancers with high degrees of differentiation and keratinization. Fittingly, poor level of differentiation (P = 0.0009), absence of keratinization (P = 0.0105) and significant discontinuity or absence of collagen IV expression in the peritumoral basal lamina (P = 0.0024). was found in Gal-7-negative tumors. Gal-7 presence was not related to gender, primary tumor site, T-stage, Nstage, clinical stage, extracapsular spread, angio- and lymphangioinvasion, perineural spread or treatment outcome at a statistically significant level. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a positive correlation for differentiation and keratinization to Gal-7 presence in squamous cell carcinomas. Absence of Gal-7 expression was detected in basal cell carcinomas. These clinical data delineate Gal-7 influence on differentiation in vivo, without evidence for a role in dissemination reported for lymphoma