AQP1, AQP5, Bcl-2 and p16 in pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

J Laryngol Otol. 2015 Jun;129(6):580-6. doi: 10.1017/S002221511500119X.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to link expression patterns of AQP1, AQP5, Bcl-2 and p16 to clinicopathological characteristics of oro-hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of AQP1, AQP5, Bcl-2 and p16 was investigated in 107 consecutive oro-hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma cases. Molecular interrelationship and correlations with clinicopathological parameters and survival were computed.

Results: AQP1 was expressed exclusively by a subgroup of basaloid-like squamous cell carcinomas. AQP5 was detected in 25.2 per cent of the samples, showing significant association with the absence of p16 and Bcl-2 (p = 0.018; p = 0.010). In multivariate analysis, overexpression of p16 was significantly correlated with favourable overall survival (p = 0.014).

Conclusion: AQP5 defined a subset of patients with Bcl-2-negative and p16-negative tumours with a poor clinical outcome. AQP1 was found to be a marker of a subgroup of aggressive basaloid-like squamous cell carcinomas. These findings suggest that AQP1 and AQP5 are interesting candidates for further studies on risk group classification and personalised treatment of oro-hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Keywords: Aquaporin 1; Aquaporin 5; Bcl2-Antagonist Of Cell Death Protein; Human; P16 Protein; Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Head And Neck.

MeSH terms

  • Aquaporin 1 / biosynthesis
  • Aquaporin 1 / genetics*
  • Aquaporin 5 / biosynthesis
  • Aquaporin 5 / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics*

Substances

  • AQP1 protein, human
  • AQP5 protein, human
  • Aquaporin 5
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CDKN2A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Aquaporin 1