Expression of transforming growth factor beta type II receptors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a potent regulator of growth and differentiation in normal squamous epithelium. TGF-beta exerts its antiproliferative effect via the TGF-beta type II receptor (TbetaR-II). A decrease in TbetaR-II expression is believed to be responsible, in part, for the resistance of squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) to the anti-proliferative effects of TGF-beta. In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to analyze the expression of TbetaR-II along the successive oncogenic stages of head and neck squamous neoplasia, from normal epithelium to dysplasia to carcinoma. Quantitation of TbetaR-II expression in 38 SqCCs was assessed on a visual scale ranging from negative (absence of staining) to 3+ (strong staining). Normal squamous epithelium and squamous epithelium in the vicinity of the tumors showed homogenous receptor expression with moderate intensity. Dysplastic epithelium and carcinoma in situ showed a mild decrease in receptor expression intensity. Well-differentiated to moderately differentiated carcinomas showed heterogeneous expression of variable intensity, and poorly differentiated carcinomas were completely devoid of TbetaR-II. In every tumor, the superficial component showed more intense receptor expression than the invasive component. These results indicate that TbetaR-II expression inversely correlates with disease aggressiveness and suggest that aberrant TbetaR-II expression is a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of SqCC.

• Authors: C A Muro-Cacho, M Anderson, J Cordero, T Muñoz-Antonia
• Journal: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (Clin Cancer Res) Vol. 5 Issue 6 Pg. 1243-8 (Jun 1999) ISSN: 1078-0432 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10389906 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Activin Receptors, Type I
• Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I
• Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II

Topics

• Activin Receptors, Type I
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Situ Hybridization
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases (biosynthesis)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I
• Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
• Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta (biosynthesis)