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80th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

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

20.05. - 24.05.2009, Rostock

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Identification of differentially expressed genes in metastatic and nonmetastatic head and neck cancer

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  • corresponding author Christian Cordes - Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie der CAU, Kiel, Germany
  • Christian Werner - Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie der CAU, Kiel, Germany
  • Markus Hoffmann - Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie der CAU, Kiel, Germany
  • Petra Ambrosch - Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie der CAU, Kiel, Germany
  • Robert Häsler - Institut für klinische Molekularbiologie der CAU, Kiel, Germany

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 80th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Rostock, 20.-24.05.2009. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2009. Doc09hno070

doi: 10.3205/09hno070, urn:nbn:de:0183-09hno0704

Published: July 22, 2009

© 2009 Cordes et al.
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Outline

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The prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) mostly depends on the anatomical site of the primary tumour and the N status of the neck. The exact molecular mechanisms leading to metastasis of HNSCC are mostly unknown. Thus, identification of genetic markers allowing prediction of metastasis is of pivotal interest.

Applying the microarray technique, 23 tumour tissues of HNSCC patients presenting with (n=13, N+) and without (n=10, N-) neck metastases were analysed. A 55000 genes displaying “whole genome array” was applied to detect differentially expressed genes.

For statistical analyses a two-dimensional hierarchical clustering with predefined groups was performed. 331 differentially expressed transcripts could be identified. The principle component analysis showed clustering for metastasis but not for anatomical site of primary tumour. 21 of the 23 patients could be matched into N+ or N- according to 5 analysed genes. The differentially expressed genes could be allocated to 25 biological processes in which they were up- or downregulated.

These results are a step forward to clinical application of microarrays in HNSCC. The application of the microarray technique may improve the understanding for the progression mechanisms of HNSCC.