Expression of p16, nm23-H1, E-cadherin, and CD44 gene products and their significance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed to determine whether p16/MTS1, nm23-H1, E-cadherin, and CD44 proteins were expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and whether those expressions were pathologically significant in the progress of NPC. METHOD: We examined non-cancerous nasopharyngeal mucosa (20 cases) and NPC (80 cases) using immunohistochemistry with six different types of monoclonal antibodies against p16, nm23-H1, E-cadherin, CD44H, CD44v3, and CD44v6 proteins. RESULTS: The results showed that 1) the rates of positive p16 protein expression and of preserved E-cadherin protein expression in NPC were significantly lower than those in non-cancerous tissue (P <.01); 2) no significant difference in the rate of positive expression of nm23-H1, CD44H, CD44v3, and CD44v6 proteins were observed between non-cancerous nasopharyngeal mucosa and NPC; 3) no significant difference in the expression of those proteins were found by respective correlation analyses of sex, stage, and size of primary tumor in NPC; and 4) no significant difference in the rates of positive expression of CD44H, CD44v3, and CD44v6 proteins were observed in NPC between with and without lymph node metastasis, indicating that those gene products did not correlate with lymph node metastasis in NPC. However, there were inverse correlations between the expression of p16, nm23-H1, or E-cadherin protein and lymph node metastasis (P <.05), indicating that the expression of p16, nm23-H1, and E-cadherin gene were related to the carcinogenesis and tumor progression of NPC. CONCLUSION: Detecting the expressions of those gene products may provide clinically valuable information for therapeutic strategy and for predicting the prognosis of patients with NPC.

Platelet aggregation in head and neck tumors in China.

We measured the maximum aggregation rate (MAR) of platelets in 770 patients with malignant head and neck tumors, 55 patients with benign tumors of the head and neck, and 164 healthy people as a control group. The results were as follows: 1. the mean MAR value of patients with malignant tumors was significantly higher than the control group mean value; 2. prior to treatment, the mean MAR value increased with advancing tumor stage; 3. both MAR values of relapsed or metastasized patients and of nonsurvivors in stage III and IV increased significantly compared with survivors or patients recovering from malignant tumors. The results of the present study suggest that MAR values of patients with malignant tumors of the head and neck may serve as indicators in evaluating therapeutic procedures and prognosis.

Enhancement of platelet aggregation in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The ADP-induced platelet aggregation in 157 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in South China was estimated. The difference between the maximum platelet aggregation rate (MAR) in the control group and the MAR of patients with stage III/IV was significant. That is, the MAR at stage III and stage IV was significantly enhanced, as compared to that in the control group and that at stage I or stage II. The results of the present study indicate that ADP-induced platelet aggregation is enhanced in NPC patients of stage III and stage IV.

[Significance of platelet aggregation in patients with malignant tumor of the head and neck].

Platelet aggregation test (PAgT) was done in 492 patients with malignant tumor of the head and neck, and in 100 healthy adults and 33 patients with benign tumors of the head and neck. The results showed: (1) The maximum aggregation rate (MAR) of the pretreatment group, recurring group and distant metastasis group of the malignant tumor patients were significantly higher than that of healthy adults, benign tumor and posttreatment group of malignant tumor patients; (2) There was no significant difference between MAR of healthy adults and the patients with benign tumor of the head and neck; (3) MAR was enhanced as the tumor progress. The Results indicate that (1) Platelet aggregation in malignant tumor of the head and neck is enhanced; and (2) PAgT might be used as a reference index for the nature, development, effect of treatment and prognosis of tumors. The mechanisms of enhancement of platelet aggregation in malignant tumor, and the role of platelet in pathogenesis of proliferation and metastasis of tumors were also discussed. The clinical use of the platelet-inhibitory agents for anti-proliferation and metastasis of tumors was in prospect.

Epiglottic laryngoplasty after extended hemilaryngectomy for glottic cancer.

This paper reports the experience in the application of modified epiglottic laryngoplasty in 20 extended hemilaryngectomies for glottic carcinoma. The Kambic-Sedlacek-Tucker (K-S-T) technique using the epiglottis in glottic reconstruction can lead to early decannulation with an excellent airway, but a wide glottis formed after operation will increase the chance of aspiration and poor voice. Sphincteric function preservation of the glottis is a key point to success in partial laryngectomy. In order to prevent aspiration and to improve the quality of voice, the reconstructive technique as modified as follows: (1) Lateral margin of the epiglottis was sutured to the cricoid. (2) The superior edge of the epiglottis was lowered to reconstruct the ventricular band. (3) A cut was made at the anterior aspect of the epiglottis to reconstruct the anterior commissure. It is the experience of the authors that modified epiglottic laryngoplasty is better than the K-S-T technique for preservation of laryngeal function after extended hemilaryngectomy.

Identification of a plasminogen activator derived from nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The activity of plasminogen activator (PA) in tissue extracts from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was determined by means of the fibrin plate method. Development of PA activity was observed in 16 out of 25 cases investigated. Furthermore, using tissue extract of NPC with PA activity, characterization and identification of the activator were carried out by means of electrophoretic analysis, fibrin zymography and immunological analysis. The molecular weight of this PA was found to be 38,000 daltons. Additionally, a urokinase type of plasminogen activator was contained in the tissue extracts.