Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Apr;131(4):813-819.
doi: 10.1002/lary.29025. Epub 2020 Aug 15.

Actin-Associated Gene Expression is Associated with Early Regional Metastasis of Tongue Cancer

Doh Young Lee #  1 , Young Kang #  2 , Nu-Ri Im  3 , Byoungjae Kim  3 , Tack-Kyun Kwon  1 , Kwang-Yoon Jung  3 , Seung-Kuk Baek  3
Affiliations

Actin-Associated Gene Expression is Associated with Early Regional Metastasis of Tongue Cancer

Doh Young Lee et al. Laryngoscope. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to analyze gene expression profile of tongue cancer associated with early lymph node metastasis using the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) data.

Study design: Basic research.

Methods: A total of 515 patients with matched RNAseq data of primary tumor and clinical data from TCGA data were extracted. To compare gene expression profile between early T-stage tongue cancer with cervical lymph node metastasis and late T-stage tongue cancer without cervical metastasis, genomic data of following two groups was assessed; 1) group 1: T1/2 and N2/3 (n = 41), 2) group 2: T4 and N0 (n = 65). Using R and limma package in bioconductor program, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were extracted. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis were performed using the DAVID online tool. FFPE tissue of 285 patients were evaluated for the validation of relevant genes by imunofluorescence (IF) and immunohistochemical (IHC) stain.

Results: A total of 225 DEGs were found, and 50 genes were highly significant with absolute fold change over eight. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis revealed that most of the upregulated genes were associated with actin cytoskeleton and included following genes: ANKRD23, NO3, PDLIM3, MUSTN1, TNNT3, MYBPC1, MB, MYH3, TTN, ACTA1, and ACTC1. When comparing tongue cancer with cN0pN0 vs. pN0pN+ using the total tongue cancer cohort of TCGA, ACTA1 was the only parameter which was associated with hidden lymph node metastasis in T1/2 (P = .019). Perineural invasion was significantly associated with high expression of ACTA1 (P < .001). IF and IHC analysis revealed that actin was overexpressed, while E-cadherin and N-cadherin were not significantly different.

Conclusions: Actin associated genes, especially overexpression of ACTA1 may be associated with early regional metastasis of tongue cancer.

Level of evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 131:813-819, 2021.

Keywords: Actin, tongue cancer, metastasis, gene expression.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

    1. Monroe MM, Gross ND. Evidence-based practice: management of the clinical node-negative neck in early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2012;45:1181-1193.
    1. Okura M, Aikawa T, Sawai NY, Iida S, Kogo M. Decision analysis and treatment threshold in a management for the N0 neck of the oral cavity carcinoma. Oral Oncol 2009;45:908-911.
    1. Po Wing Yuen A, Lam KY, Lam LK, et al. Prognostic factors of clinically stage I and II oral tongue carcinoma-a comparative study of stage, thickness, shape, growth pattern, invasive front malignancy grading, Martinez-Gimeno score, and pathologic features. Head Neck 2002;24:513-520.
    1. Fakih AR, Rao RS, Borges AM, Patel AR. Elective versus therapeutic neck dissection in early carcinoma of the oral tongue. Am J Surg 1989;158:309-313.
    1. Rodrigo JP, Shah JP, Silver CE, et al. Management of the clinically negative neck in early-stage head and neck cancers after transoral resection. Head Neck 2011;33:1210-1219.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources