EXPRESSION OF TETRASPANINS CD9 AND CD63 IN HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective Tetraspanins are proteins involved in several cellular processes, including association with tumor progression. In this study, the immunoexpression of tetraspanins in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were assessed, aiming to evaluate the participation of these molecules in carcinogenesis. Study Design An immunohistochemical study was carried out using the tissue microarray technique to evaluate the tetraspanins CD9 and CD63. One hundred and twenty-one HNSCCs were analyzed (male, n = 97; female, n = 24; mean age, 60.4 years). The anatomic sites were 84 oral cavity, 23 oropharynx, 3 skin, 7 paranasal sinuses, 2 larynx, 1 nasopharynx, and 1 pharynx. Results Only 103 HNSCCs were available for analysis. For CD9, 69 (67%) HNSCCs were positive (46 oral cavity, 17 oropharynx, 5 paranasal sinuses, and 1 skin). For CD63, 11 (10.7%) HNSCCs were positive (7 oral cavity, 2 oropharynx, 1 paranasal sinuses, and 1 skin). Conclusions Our results suggest participation of tetraspanins CD9 and CD63 in the HNSCC pathogenesis. Further studies are necessary to determinate their prognostic effect with therapeutic implications. FAPESP grant 2016/11419-0. Tetraspanins are proteins involved in several cellular processes, including association with tumor progression. In this study, the immunoexpression of tetraspanins in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were assessed, aiming to evaluate the participation of these molecules in carcinogenesis. An immunohistochemical study was carried out using the tissue microarray technique to evaluate the tetraspanins CD9 and CD63. One hundred and twenty-one HNSCCs were analyzed (male, n = 97; female, n = 24; mean age, 60.4 years). The anatomic sites were 84 oral cavity, 23 oropharynx, 3 skin, 7 paranasal sinuses, 2 larynx, 1 nasopharynx, and 1 pharynx. Only 103 HNSCCs were available for analysis. For CD9, 69 (67%) HNSCCs were positive (46 oral cavity, 17 oropharynx, 5 paranasal sinuses, and 1 skin). For CD63, 11 (10.7%) HNSCCs were positive (7 oral cavity, 2 oropharynx, 1 paranasal sinuses, and 1 skin). Our results suggest participation of tetraspanins CD9 and CD63 in the HNSCC pathogenesis. Further studies are necessary to determinate their prognostic effect with therapeutic implications. FAPESP grant 2016/11419-0.