gms | German Medical Science

76th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

04.05. - 08.05.2005, Erfurt

Immunohistochemical analysis for markers of hypoxia in oropharyngeal carcinomas

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author Yue-Shih Chen - ENT Department, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Germany
  • Masin Sawas - Institute of Pathology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Germany
  • Samiera Amawi - Institute of Pathology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Germany
  • Johann Lorenzen - Institute of Pathology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Germany
  • Martin Westhofen - ENT Department, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Germany

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. 76. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e.V.. Erfurt, 04.-08.05.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. Doc05hno000

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/hno2005/05hno150.shtml

Published: September 22, 2005

© 2005 Chen et al.
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Outline

Text

Introduction: Neoangiogenesis is essential in tumor growth and progression. Rapid tumor growth is coupled with hypoxic tissue conditions. Evaluation of hypoxia in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma revealed an association with poor prognosis under primary chemoradiotherapy. The aim of this study was to detect the relevance of hypoxia in oropharyngeal carcinomas by immunohistochemical staining with endogenous markers for hypoxia.

Methods: 47 Patients attending the ENT-Department University Hospital of RWTH Aachen with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx were included in this study. Tissue samples of tumor and tumor surrounding tissue were collected in tissue microarrays and stained with specific antibodies against hypoxia-inducible-factor-1 (HIF-1), carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA 9), thymidine phosphorylase TP and prolyl hydoxylase 2 (PHD-2). The amount of staining was classified in four grades by two independent investigators.

Results: Three of four markers were detectable in higher amount in tumor compared to the surrounding tissue HIF-1 (p=0,005), TP (p<0,001) and CA 9 (p<0,001). PHD-2 was detected in higher amount in the surrounding tissue compared to tumor (p>0,001). No difference was found between tumor stage and grading and intense of staining for all factors. CA 9 (p=0,012) was detected in higher extent in tumor with presence of lymph node metastasis.

Conclusion: Endogenous markers of hypoxia are present in high extent in oropharyngeal carcinomas. The counter regulatory factor PHD-2 is suppressed in tumor compared to surrounding tissue. High amount of CA 9 in tumor is coupled with risk of presence of lymph node metastasis. The prognostic impact of hypoxia in oropharyngeal carcinoma should be object of further studies.