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Increased expression of nuclear factor E2 p45‐related factor 2 (NRF2) in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
Author(s) -
Stacy Donnie R.,
Ely Kim,
Massion Pierre P.,
Yarbrough Wendell G.,
Hallahan Dennis E.,
Sekhar Konjeti R.,
Freeman Michael L.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.20430
Subject(s) - biomarker , immunohistochemistry , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , cancer research , tissue microarray , transcription factor , gene expression , pathology , biology , medicine , gene , cancer , head and neck cancer , biochemistry
Background. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Overexpression of specific phase II gene products may represent an important biomarker. One regulator of phase II gene expression is the transcription factor nuclear factor E2 p45‐related factor 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 expression was evaluated in HNSCC, to determine whether it might serve as a biomarker for early detection of disease. Methods. A tissue microarray was constructed of 141 HNSCC biopsy cores from 47 HNSCCs. In addition, histologically normal squamous mucosa was obtained from 7 patients. Protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results. Nrf2 expression was increased in 91.5% of tumors. Expression of thioredoxin, a Nrf2‐reguated gene product, was elevated in 75% of tumors. Keap1, which regulates the rate of Nrf2 ubiquitination and degradation, was relatively overexpressed in HNSCC compared with normal mucosa. Conclusions. Nrf2 expression may be a possible HNSCC candidate biomarker. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2006