NUCLEAR MATRIX PROTEINS AS MALIGNANT MARKERS IN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK

Objective: To test the hypothesis that transformation of normal upper aerodigestive mucosa to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck ( SCCHN) is associated with specific changes in nuclear matrix (NM) prot eins. Design: Retrospective, nonrandomized investigation using a cellu lar fractionation sequence followed by 2-dimensional gel electrophores is analysis of NM proteins. Subjects: Nuclear matrix proteins were ext racted from a cohort of 12 pathologic SCCHN specimens and 5 normal spe cimens of oropharyngeal mucosa. Results: All SCCHN specimens examined expressed 11 NM proteins that were not detected in normal mucosa. Conv ersely, at least 4 NM proteins that were expressed by all specimens of normal mucosa were absent from all SCCHN tumors. Seven NM proteins we re common to carcinomas and normal specimens. Spindle cell histologica l variants of squamous cell carcinoma had distinct NM patterns. Conclu sions: Malignant transformation of normal upper aerodigestive mucosa t o SCCHN is associated with specific changes in NM composition. These d ata suggest that different NM proteins might serve as specific tumor m arkers.