Impact of C-Fos Overactivation on Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Biological Parameters.

OBJECTIVES

Deregulation of transcriptional factors is a severe genetic event during carcinogenetic process. Among them, C-Fos proto-oncogene (gene locus: 14q24.3) encodes for a nuclear phosphoprotein that is involved in critical intracellular functions. Our aim was to explore the impact of C-Fos different expression patterns on a series of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) cases.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A set of fifty-five (n=55) LSCC tissues were analyzed by implementing a combination of anti-C-Fos-based immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis assays, respectively.

RESULTS

Overexpression of the molecule (high staining intensity levels) was confirmed in 34/55 (61.8%) of the selected cases, whereas the remaining 21/55 (38.2%) were characterized by low expression rates. C-Fos deregulation was marginally correlated with the stage of the examined malignancies (p=0.048), demonstrating a progressively increased protein overexpression. No further statistical correlations were established referring to gender, anatomic location, grade or tobacco and alcohol consumption, respectively.

CONCLUSION

C-Fos oncogene overactivation is a frequent event in subgroups of LSCC patients. C-Fos overexpression seems to lead to an aggressive phenotype increased metastatic potential (advanced stage). Identifying specific C-Fos genetic signatures that lead to its overactivation should be a significant step for an optimal oncological approach by targeting the gene.