Expression of ezrin and moesin related to invasion, metastasis and prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Genet Mol Res. 2014 Sep 29;13(3):8002-13. doi: 10.4238/2014.September.29.13.

Abstract

We examined the expression of ezrin and moesin in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and their correlation with patient clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival. Immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for ezrin and moesin were applied to 60 carcinoma tissues, adjacent normal tissues, and 33 metastatic lymph nodes. Survival functions were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. RT-PCR demonstrated that the intensity ratios of ezrin and moesin to β-actin were higher in LSCC than in adjacent normal mucous membrane (P < 0.05). Furthermore, intensity ratios were higher in cervical metastatic lymph nodes than in LSCC (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that ezrin and moesin were well distributed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. Expression was significantly different between LSCC and adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.05); moreover, expression in the cervical metastatic lymph nodes was higher than in LSCC (P < 0.05). Expression of ezrin and moesin was significantly related to clinical stage, T stage, and cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), except that moesin showed no significant relationship with clinical stage (P > 0.05). Patients with negative ezrin and moesin expression had a significantly longer overall survival time compared to patients with moderate and intense ezrin and moesin expression (P < 0.001, P < 0.05). Ezrin and moesin expression is related to LSCC invasion and metastasis, and may be important molecular markers for predicting prognosis and therapeutic targets in LSCC patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis*
  • Prognosis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • ezrin
  • moesin