gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: LRP1 is a potential prognostic marker in several cancer entities since its lowered expression is associated with worth overall survival (OS). Moreover, LRP1 expression was associated with p53 and p16 alteration, serpin-protease-complex-clearance, high-grade and aggressiveness in other tumour entities – all characteristics of HNSCC.

Methods: After detection of LRP1 and a truncated splice variant (shLRP1) in the HNSCC-derived cell lines FaDu and HN5, RNA of 10 primary HNSCC with identical TNM status (pT4a pN2b cM0) at time of diagnosis, but despite identical treatment different clinical course regarding either A) a rather short progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the patients (n=5) or B) so far event-free survival of the patients (n=5) were analyzed for presence of both LRP1 transcripts and HPV DNA status was assessed.

Results: We found no difference in LRP1 expression in comparison of groups A and B but significant higher LRP1 expression in HPV DNA-positive HNSCC (n=5). The shLRP1 expression analysis, however, did neither differ in comparison of the two groups with different clinical outcome nor between HPV negative and positive HNSCC.

Conclusion: LRP1 is differentially expressed in HPV negative and positive HNSCC. Considering its association with HNSCC characteristics and in particular HPV-related effects on p53 and p16, further experiments are now performed to corroborate LRP1 as a prognostic marker or therapeutic target in HNSCC.

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