Increased expression of Rab coupling protein in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and its clinical significance

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Yaozhang Dai, Central South University; Yong Liu, Central South University; Donghai Huang, Central South University; Changyun Yu, Central South University; Gengming Cai, Central South University; Leiming Pi, Central South University; Caiping Ren, Central South University; Georgia Chen, Emory University; Yoongquan Tian, Central South University; Xin Zhang, Central South University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-06-01
• Publisher: SPANDIDOS PUBL LTD
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2012, Spandidos Publications
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3892/ol.2012.652
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: ONCOLOGY LETTERS
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 1231
• End Page: 1236
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81071757, 30872852, 30901664), the Key Program of Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2010TP4012-1), the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20100162110036, 20090162110065) and the Graduate Degree Thesis Innovation Foundation of Hunan province (CX2011B059).
• Keywords: POLARITY; GTPASES; Science & Technology; prognosis; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; TRANSPORT; Oncology; metastasis; Rab coupling protein; squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; CANCER
• Research Categories: Biology, Cell; Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

The role of Rab coupling protein (RCP) has not been previously investigated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The aim of this study was to explore RCP protein expression and its clinicopathological significance in SCCHN. RCP protein expression in 95 SCCHN samples, 18 vocal nodule epithelia and 16 leukoplakia epithelia samples was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patient outcome. Our data indicated that vocal nodule epithelia, leukoplakia epithelia and SCCHN showed a gradual increase in the expression of RCP protein. RCP overexpression was significantly associated with T classification, clinical staging, lymph node metastasis and recurrence. Survival analysis revealed that a high RCP expression was significantly correlated with shorter overall survival and disease-free survival. In conclusion, RCP protein may contribute to the malignant progression of SCCHN, and serves as a novel prognostic marker in patients with SCCHN.