Expression of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Regulating Transcription Factors in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

BACKGROUND/AIM: The transcription factors Twist, Snail, Slug, ZEB1 and ZEB2 regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and their expression has been associated with a poor prognosis in several cancer entities. The aim of this analysis was to investigate in parallel the expression of all of these transcription factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) in order to gain insight into their possible co-expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor tissue samples were immunohistochemically stained using antibodies against these transcription factors. The staining intensity and cellular distribution of the immunoreactivity was recorded.

RESULTS: In general, transcription factor immunoreactivity was noted in the nucleus of both cancer and stromal cells. The highest immunoreactivity was observed for Twist. Snail, Slug, ZEB1 and ZEB2 showed a much lesser immunoreactivity in cancer cells and they were expressed independently from each other.

CONCLUSION: Twist is the major transcription factor active in HNSCC; the other transcription factors of EMT seem to be of less importance in this tumor entity.