Pemphigus vulgaris antigen mRNA quantification for the staging of sentinel lymph nodes in head and neck cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Molecular diagnosis has been proposed to enhance the intra-operative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node (SLN) invasion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Although cytokeratin (CK) mRNA quantification with real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (QRT -PCR) has produced encouraging results, the more discriminating markers remain to be identified. METHODS: Pemphigus vulgaris antigen (PVA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), and CK17 mRNA were quantified using QRT -PCR, and the results were compared with an extensive histopathological examination of the entire SLNs on 78 SLNs harvested from 22 patients with HNSCC. RESULTS: SCCA and CK17 quantification showed significantly higher mRNA values for macrometastases (MAs) than for either negative or isolated tumour cell (ITC) SLNs (Po0.01). Pemphigus vulgaris antigen allowed the discrimination of all MAs and micrometastases from both negative and ITC SLNs (Po0.001). For the neck staging of patients, considering metastatic vs non-metastatic status, receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis found areas under the curve of 93.8, 97.9, and 100% for CK17, SCCA, and PVA, respectively. With PVA, a cutoff value of 562 copies per 100 ng of cDNA permitted the correct distinction between patients with positive as opposed to negative neck nodes in all cases. CONCLUSION: PVA seems to be a highly promising marker for accurate intra-operative SLN staging in HNSCC by QRT -PCR.

Quantitative expression study of four cytokeratins and p63 in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: suitability for sentinel node navigation surgery using one-step nucleic acid amplification

“…Other authors have also reported candidates such as MUC1,25 26 E48 transcripts,27 CK13,28 29 CK14,30 CK17,20 CK19,26 CK20,31 pemphigus vulgaris antigen20 24 32 and parathyroid hormone-related protein 24…”

“…Traditional methods of pathological examination have several drawbacks 8 9 20. To obtain more accurate results, a comparatively greater number of pathological specimens need to be examined.…”

DSG3 as a biomarker for the ultrasensitive detection of occult lymph node metastasis in oral cancer using nanostructured immunoarrays

“…Use of multiple markers may improve detection of metastatic lymph nodes, and in this regard, mRNA for DSG3 (referred to as pemphigus vulgaris antigen, PVA) and TACSTD1 (tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 1), have been previously reported to be highly expressed in HNSCC, and successfully integrated into a multiplex qRT-PCR assay for metastatic prediction, achieving a remarkable accuracy 38,39 . DSG3 mRNA levels in lymph nodes have been also touted as potential predictors of HNSCC progression 38,40 . Generally, the use of qPCR greatly improves the sensitivity of detection of target genes, but the need of high quality RNA extracted from tissues remains a significant technical hurdle, such as the presence of contaminants and RNA degradation that can severely interfere with data interpretation.…”

Proteomic analysis reveals overexpression of moesin and cytokeratin 17 proteins in colorectal carcinoma

“…Cytokeratin (KRT) 17 is a protein usually present in the basal cells of stratified squamous epithelium or ductal epithelium. KRT17 has been considered a tumor marker in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck and breast cancers (49,50). Especially, in 'triple-negative' breast cancers in which ER, progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 are all test-negative, KRT17 expression has been associated with a worse prognosis, high tumor grade and positive axillary lymph nodes (51)(52)(53)(54).…”