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The assessment of gene expression profile in laryngeal cancer allows implementation of molecular biology methods in diagnostics, as well as in prognosticating the course of disease, thus allowing taking most optimal decisions as regards the method of treatment, scope of surgical procedure, or the necessity of adding complementary radiotherapy. The aim of the project was to analyze the gene expression profile in laryngeal cancer using oligonucleotide microarrays, having in mind searching new molecular markers for that carcinoma. The study comprised a group of 43 patients (38 males and 5 females) suffering from squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma, diagnosed and surgically treated in the years 2005-2007 in the ENT Department of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland. RNA was isolated from frozen tissue fragments, with the use of columns RNeasy Midi and Mini Kit (Qiagen). For the examination of gene expression profile, oligonucleotide microarrays of high density were used, provided by Affymetrix (U 133 2.0 PLUS) containing over 54,000 probes for over 47,000 transcripts. Four genes previously not examined in that respect in laryngeal carcinoma, occurred to be good markers of the neoplasm. They are: metal-proteinase ADAM12, cyclin-dependent kinase 2-CDK2, kinesin 14-KIF14, suppressor 1 of checkpoint-CHES1. The analysis of gene expression profile allows, in laryngeal carcinoma, to point out to new genes, which in future may become molecular markers of the carcinoma.

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SummaryBackgroundThis study sought to assess the vestibulocochlear organ in patients meeting radiologic criteria of vascular compression syndrome (VCS) of the eighth cranial nerve.Material/MethodsThe authors performed a retrospective analysis of 34 patients (18 women, 16 men; mean age, 49 years) treated in between 2000 and 2007, with VCS of the eighth cranial nerve by MRI. Contrasted magnetic resonance imaging identified an anterior inferior cerebellar artery vascular loop adhering to the vestibule-cochlear nerve in all 34 cases. All patients were given pure tone audiometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response, and electroneurographic examinations.ResultsMost-common symptoms were unilateral hearing loss (82%), unilateral tinnitus (80%), and dizziness (74%). Most-frequent abnormalities in performed examinations were specific auditory brainstem response changes (interpreted according to Möller’s criteria) in 86% of cases and sensorineural hearing loss in pure tone audiometry (82%). Abnormal changes in electronystagmography were found in the absence (12%) or weakness (35%) of a caloric response. No patients were surgically treated.ConclusionsSignificantly, there is no more weakness or absence of the caloric response of a vestibular organ in a patient with vascular compression of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Despite an absence of electrophysiologic testing of vestibular organ dysfunction, most examined patients (meeting the radiologic criteria of VCS of the eighth cranial nerve) had subjective symptoms like vertigo and dizziness. Disabling positional vertigo should be considered in the differential diagnosis of vertigo when accompanied by tinnitus or deafness.