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ABSTRACT: Background
Various cancer stem cell (CSC) biomarkers and the genes encoding them in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have been identified and evaluated. However, the validity of these factors in the prognosis of HNSCC has been questioned and remains unclear. In this study, we examined the clinical significance of CSC biomarker genes in HNSCC, using five publicly available HNSCC cohorts.Methods
To predict the prognosis of patients with HNSCC, we developed and validated the expression signatures of CSC biomarker genes whose mRNA expression levels correlated with at least one of the four CSC genes (CD44, MET, ALDH1A1, and BMI1).Results
Patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC cohort were classified into CSC gene expression-associated high-risk (CSC-HR; n = 285) and CSC gene expression-associated low-risk (CSC-LR; n = 281) subgroups. The 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly lower in the CSC-HR subgroup than in the CSC-LR subgroup (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). The clinical significance of the CSC gene expression signature was validated using four independent cohorts. Analysis using Cox proportional hazards models showed that the CSC gene expression signature was an independent prognostic factor of non-oropharyngeal HNSCC which mostly indicates HPV (-) status. Furthermore, the CSC gene expression signature was associated with the prognosis of HNSCC patients who received radiotherapy.Conclusion
The CSC gene expression signature is associated with the prognosis of HNSCC and may help in personalized treatments for patients with HNSCC, especially in cases with HPV (-) status who were classified in more detail.
SUBMITTER: Kim SI
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9583594 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kim Su Il SI Woo Seon Rang SR Noh Joo Kyung JK Lee Min Kyeong MK Lee Young Chan YC Lee Jung Woo JW Kong Moonkyoo M Ko Seong-Gyu SG Eun Young-Gyu YG
BMC cancer 20221019 1
<h4>Background</h4>Various cancer stem cell (CSC) biomarkers and the genes encoding them in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have been identified and evaluated. However, the validity of these factors in the prognosis of HNSCC has been questioned and remains unclear. In this study, we examined the clinical significance of CSC biomarker genes in HNSCC, using five publicly available HNSCC cohorts.<h4>Methods</h4>To predict the prognosis of patients with HNSCC, we developed and validate ...[more]