FGFR4 Profile as a Prognostic Marker in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Mouth and Oropharynx

Author(s)

Dutra, Roberta Lelis ^[1] ; de Carvalho, Marcos Brasilino ^{[2, 3]} ; dos Santos, Marcelo ^[4] ; da Cunha Mercante, Ana Maria ^[5] ; Gazito, Diana ^[6] ; de Cicco, Rafael ^[7] ; Tajara, Eloiza Helena ^[8] ; Louro, Iuri Drumond ^[9] ; Alvares da Silva, Adriana Madeira ^[10] ; Grp, GENCAPO ^[11]

Affiliation:Show less -

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Hosp Heliopolis, Serv Cirurgia Cabeca & Pescoco, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Hosp Heliopolis, Mol Biol Lab, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Programa Pos Grad Biotecnol, Vitoria, ES - Brazil

^[5] Hosp Heliopolis, Dept Anat Patol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Assoc Beneficente Coleta Sangue, Lab Sequenciamento, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Inst Canc Res, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[8] Fac Med Sao Jose Rio Preto, Dept Biol Mol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[9] Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Dept Ciencias Biol, Vitoria, ES - Brazil

^[10] Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Dept Biol, Alegre, ES - Brazil

^[11] GENCAPO Grp, GENCAPO, Head & Neck Genome Project, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 7, n. 11 NOV 30 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 21

Abstract

Background: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a member of a receptor tyrosine kinase family of enzymes involved in cell cycle control and proliferation. A common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Gly388Arg variant has been associated with increased tumor cell motility and progression of breast cancer, head and neck cancer and soft tissue sarcomas. The present study evaluated the prognostic significance of FGFR4 in oral and oropharynx carcinomas, finding an association of FGFR4 expression and Gly388Arg genotype with tumor onset and prognosis. Patients and Methods: DNA from peripheral blood of 122 patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas was used to determine FGFR4 genotype by PCR-RFLP. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on paraffin-embedded tissue microarrays. Results: Presence of allele Arg388 was associated with lymphatic embolization and with disease related premature death. In addition, FGFR4 low expression was related with lymph node positivity and premature relapse of disease, as well as disease related death. Conclusion: Our results propose FGFR4 profile, measured by the Gly388Arg genotype and expression, as a novel marker of prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 04/12054-9 - Markers of aggressive behavior in head and neck tumors
• Grantee: Eloiza Helena Tajara da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants