Purpose: Topoisomerases (types: I/IIa-b/IIIa-b) represent a super-family of nucleic enzymes involved in the DNA replication, transcription, recombination, and also chromosome topological formation. Topoisomerase's I (Topo I- gene location: 20q12) aberrant expression is a frequent genetic event in a variety of solid malignancies. Topo I inhibition promotes cell death due to DNA damage and for this reason it is a target for specific targeted chemotherapy (camptothecin, topotecan, irinotecan). Our aim was to investigate the role of abnormal Topo I protein expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC) in which there are very limited data regarding the influence of the marker.
Methods: Using tissue microarray (TMA) technology, 50 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary laryngeal SCCs were cored and re-pembedded into one recipient block. Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti- Topo I antibody. Digital image analysis was also implemented for evaluating objectively the protein expression levels on the corresponding stained nuclei.
Results: Topo I protein overexpression (moderate to high staining intensity values) was observed in 32/50 (64%) tissue cores, whereas low expression rates were detected in 18/50 (36%) cases. Topo I overall expression was strongly associated with the differentiation grade of the examined tumors (p=0.021). No other statistical correlations were identified.
Conclusions: Topo I overexpression is observed in a significant subset of LSCCs affecting the level of differentiation in them. Additional molecular studies focused on the mechanism of Topo I gene/protein deregulation (i.e. amplification, abnormal epigenetic promoter methylation, mRNA aberrant expression) are necessary discriminating the eligible patients for applying specific chemotherapeutic strategies based on anti-Topo I agents.