Metallothionein as a spinocellular tumour biomarker: analysis of tumorous tissue samples

abstract

English

Over 40,000 new cases of head and neck tumours are diagnosed in United States every year (1), thus, these tumours are an important issue, in male population, in particular. Histologically, tumours of head and neck comprise relatively uniform group of mostly spinocellular tumours with unique zinc and zinc-binding protein metallothionein (MT) metabolism (2). In these tumours, elevated levels of both zinc (II) and MT were observed by numerous studies. Therefore, a potential use of those substances as tumour markers was outlined. Thus, the aim of this pilot study was to analyse the level of MT in tissue first obtained samples of histologically verified spinocellular tumours using electrochemical detection. The MT levels were compared with levels in adjacent tissues and correlated with TNM staging. Total 30 tissue samples were collected and analysed due 2013 with following locations included: oral cavity and pharynx. Significantly higher (t-test, p < 0.05) MT content was determined in both locations compared to adjacent tissue. In contrast, no significant differences were determined between oral cavity and pharyngeal tumours. With regard to tumour staging, significant positive correlation was determined (r = 0.79, p < 0.05). These preliminary results indicate MT as an important molecule in the head and neck tumour development and a potential diagnostic biomarker for this tumor type, however further studies on increasing number of samples will provide more detailed conclusions.

Metallothionein; tumour biomarker

GUMULEC, J.; SZTALMACHOVÁ, M.; POLANSKÁ, H.; HOLUBOVÁ, M.; BALVAN, J.; BINKOVÁ, H.; HORÁKOVÁ, Z.; KOSTŘICA, R.; ZÍTKA, O.; ADAM, V.; KIZEK, R.; MASAŘÍK, M.

1. 1. 2013

1107-3756

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE

32

1

United States of America

S47

S47

1