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MicroRNA‐137 promoter methylation is associated with poorer overall survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Author(s) -
Langevin Scott M.,
Stone Roslyn A.,
Bunker Clareann H.,
LyonsWeiler Maureen A.,
LaFramboise William A.,
Kelly Lori,
Seethala Raja R.,
Grandis Jennifer R.,
Sobol Robert W.,
Taioli Emanuela
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.25689
Subject(s) - medicine , methylation , head and neck cancer , cancer , oncology , microrna , cancer research , hazard ratio , carcinoma , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , stage (stratigraphy) , larynx , lymph node , dna methylation , pathology , confidence interval , biology , gene , gene expression , surgery , paleontology , biochemistry
BACKGROUND: The overall 5‐year survival rate of approximately 60% for head and neck cancer patients has remained essentially unchanged over the past 30 years. MicroRNA‐137 (miR‐137) plays an essential role in cell‐cycle control at the G1/S‐phase checkpoint. However, the aberrant miR‐137 promoter methylation observed in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) suggests a tumor‐specific molecular defect that may contribute to disease progression. METHODS: The goal of this study was to assess, in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tumor tissue, the association between miR‐137 promoter methylation and survival (both overall and disease free) and with prognostic factors including stage, tumor size, lymph node positivity, tumor grade, and surgical tumor margin positivity. RESULTS: The promoter methylation status of miR‐137 was ascertained by methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction and detected in 11 of 67 SCCHN patients (16.4%), with no significant differences according to site (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx). Methylation of the miR‐137 promoter was significantly associated with overall survival (hazard ratio, 3.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.01‐13.38) but not with disease‐free survival or any of the prognostic factors evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that miR‐137 is methylated in tumor tissue from pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cancers, in addition to oral squamous cell carcinoma, and that miR‐137 promoter methylation has potential utility as a prognostic marker for SCCHN. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.