Expression Of HTERT And Survivin In Normal Mucosa, Polyps, Dysplasia, Squamous Cell Carcinomas And Adjacent Non-neoplastic Tissues Of The Larynx

Objective: To find if a difference in hTERT or survivin levels exists between laryngeal neoplastic tissues and laryngeal non-neoplastic tissues, and explore the expression of hTERT and survivin in normal mucosa, polyps, dysplasia, squamous cell carcinomas and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues of the larynx to search for clinical usefulness.Methods: The telomerase catalytic protein hTERT was localized in multiple laryngeal tissues using SP method, and survivin was localized by SABC method. Staining was localization in 46 laryngeal neoplastic tissues and 82 laryngeal non-neoplastic tissues. The mRNA expression of the two genes was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 40 laryngeal carcinomas and in 52 non-neoplastic laryngeal tissues.Results: hTERT staining was detected in sections of 63 of 138 specimens (32 of 46 laryngeal neoplastic tissues, 31 of 82 laryngeal non-neoplastic tissues). Survivin was detected in sections of 77 of 138 specimens (35 of 46 laryngeal neoplastic tissues, 42 of 82 laryngeal non-neoplastic tissues). Compared with non-neoplastic laryngeal tissuesthe expression levels of these two kinds of protein were elevated in laryngeal neoplastic tissues (p<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of Survivin and hTERT were increased in the transition from normal mucosa, adjacent non-neoplastic tissues to laryngeal neoplastic tissues (p<0.01). However, there was no relationship between the expression levels of these two genes in laryngeal squaumous cell carcinoma tissues and the clinic pathologic features (p>0.05).Conclusion: Compared with non-neoplastic laryngeal tissues, survivin and telomerase hTERT were overexpressed in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas, suggesting that regulation of apoptosis and stabilization of telomerase length might be involved in laryngeal neoplasm. The patterns of expression observed for survivin and hTERT in non-neoplastic laryngeal tissues suggest that the control of apoptosis and stabilization of telemetric DNA might also be involved in normal larynx mucosa development. Survivin and hTERT genes are possibly related to genesis of laryngeal squaumous cell carcinoma. Survivin and hTERT may serve as novel biomarkers of laryngeal cancer with high specificity and sensitivity.