Detection of metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using the relative expression of tissue-specific mir-205.

ABSTRACT: The presence of cervical lymph node metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the strongest determinant of patient prognosis. Owing to the impact of nodal metastases on patient survival, a system for sensitive and accurate detection is required. Clinical staging of lymph nodes is far less accurate than pathological staging. Pathological staging also suffers limitations because it fails to detect micrometastasis in a subset of nodal specimens. To improve the sensitivity of existing means of diagnosing metastatic disease, many advocate the use of molecular markers specific for HNSCC cells. MicroRNA (miRNA) are short noncoding segments of RNA that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression. Approximately one third of all miRNA will exhibit substantial tissue specifici

SUBMITTER: Fletcher AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2582169 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature