Abstract 3788: Alpha-2 Heremans Schmid glycoprotein (AHSG) promotes migration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines.

Abstract

Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the eighth most common tumor in the world. Approximately 30,000 new cases of HNSCC are reported each year and 8,000 related deaths, in the United States. HNSCC of the oral cavity is highly metastatic and has a recurrence rate of 20%-50%, with a dismal 5-year survival rate of ∼50%. African-American males have a 5-year survival rate of ∼42% while the survival rate for Caucasian males is 52%. To date, there is no consistent means for early detection or a reliable biomarker for HNSCC, thus perpetuating the lack of improvement in mortality despite advances in delivery of treatment and surgical reconstruction. In a proteomic study seeking possible biomarkers for HNSCC, AHSG was detected at elevated levels in serum. Interestingly, we have found that some HNSCC cell lines synthesize and secrete AHSG. We have also shown in earlier studies, that the lack of AHSG reduces mammary tumor incidence and prolongs tumor latency in a mouse model for breast cancer. Together, this suggests that this hepatocellular glycoprotein that is found in most body fluids including serum could be a potential biomarker for HNSCC. AHSG is a negative acute phase response protein, which makes the findings of elevated levels of AHSG in the proteomic study most intriguing. In order to evaluate the role of AHSG in HNSCC progression (proliferation and metastatic properties) in vitro, we depleted AHSG in the HNSCC cell lineSQ20B. Thus far, we show that depletion of AHSG does not affect the proliferation of SQ20B cells. However, the depletion of AHSG mediates a decrease in migration and invasion of SQ20B cells. We are currently elucidating the molecular mechanisms of AHSG-mediated motility. This work was supported by grants from the NIH-NCI-Score 1 SC1 CA134018-01 (JO); DOD W81XWH-07-1-0254 (J.O); 5 T32 HL007735-15 (SA) and U54 CA091408 (subproject, DM). Citation Format: Pamela D. Thompson, Kurt Watson, Amos Sakwe, Josiah Ochieng, Dana Marshall. Alpha-2 Heremans Schmid glycoprotein (AHSG) promotes migration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3788. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3788