The roles of ASCC3, GLS2, and TGM2 gene expression in head and neck cancer

• Main Authors: Jia-Fu Hung, 洪嘉甫
• Other Authors: Chang-Shen Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/nsd7n8

碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 醫學研究所碩士班 === 104 === Head and neck cancer includes a group of neoplasms arising from the upper aerodigestive tract, and it represents one of the common causes of cancer-related death. However, in spite of the advances in the field of oncology, surgery and radiotherapy, the overall 5-year survival rate has not significantly been improved for decades. Thus, further researches on the factors that might modify the disease prognosis are encouraged. Three target genes were selected to elucidate their relationship with clinical parameters and survival status. ASCC3 belongs to the helicase family, involving in ATP-dependent unwinding process of nucleic acid duplexes in DNA damage response. GLS2 is a phosphate-activated glutaminase and catalyzes hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate and ammonia, balancing the redox system in cells. TGM2 catalyzes the process of protein cross-linking in various biochemical and pathological process in- and outside of cells and involves in the process of apoptosis. In this study, we used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to examine the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of ASCC3, GLS2, and TGM2 from ninety-six specimen of head and neck neoplasms, with both cancerous and non-cancerous origins. We also correlated the mRNA expression levels with different tumor behaviors and patient’s demographic status. We found that ASCC3 was upregulated in head and neck cancer, positively correlated with primary laryngeal tumor size, restricted the trends of lymph node invasion and the demand for radiotherapy. Down-regulated GLS2 expression was found in tumor samples, and the decreased GLS2 mRNA expression is negatively correlated with lymph node invasion and tumor stage status. Diverse impact of TGM2 on head and neck subsites was impressed, with upregulated TGM2 mRNA expression in oral but down-regulated in laryngeal and pharyngeal parts. In laryngeal tumor, TGM2 mRNA expression is positively correlated with primary laryngeal tumor size and stage. Multivariate Cox model analysis showed that ASCC3 might be a favorable prognostic factor regarding the head and neck patient survival. This is the first study concerning the roles of ASCC3, GLS2, and TGM2 gene expression in head and neck cancer.