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Expression of the Sonic hedgehog pathway in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and the mucosa of the head and neck
Author(s) -
Schneider Sven,
Thurnher Dietmar,
Kloimstein Philipp,
Leitner Verena,
Petzelbauer Peter,
Pammer Johannes,
Brunner Markus,
Erovic Boban M.
Publication year - 2011
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.21437
Subject(s) - head and neck , hedgehog signaling pathway , sonic hedgehog , hedgehog , basal cell , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , medicine , pathology , anatomy , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , head and neck cancer , cancer , signal transduction , surgery
Background Activation of the hedgehog pathway may contribute to carcinogenesis. This study characterizes the expression pattern in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and the head and neck. Methods Tissue microarrays were constructed with samples of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and the head and neck. All tissue samples were immunohistochemically stained for 7 Hedgehog pathway molecules. Results Significant ( p < .0001) overexpression of all evaluated molecules could be observed in the tumor samples compared with healthy control tissues. Expression of Gli‐2 showed significant upregulation and that of Smoothened and Patched significant downregulation in head and neck compared with skin carcinoma. High expression of Sonic hedgehog correlates significantly ( p = .001) with poor overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer. Conclusions Hedgehog signaling is differentially regulated in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and the head and neck. Sonic hedgehog expression may serve as a prognostic factor in patients with head and neck cancer. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011