Differentially expressed genes related to lymph node metastasis in advanced laryngeal squamous cell cancers

Understanding the molecular mechanisms and gene expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) may explain its aggressive biological behavior and regional metastasis pathways. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying LSCC metastasis and the search for possible molecular targets seems promising. Interpreting the links between the differentially expressed genes in advanced stages can lead to a search for predictive markers that can also help determine the possible treatment routes. We designed this study to detect possible genetic alterations in a homogeneous group of patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal cancer who underwent total laryngectomy and neck dissection. Patients with and without lymph node metastasis were selected to examine the differential gene expression in the normal mucosa, tumor, and lymph node tissues of each patient. Our main purpose was to identify the possible commonly expressed genes in this homogenous group of Turkish patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal cancer. Second, we aimed to determine the predictive role of these genes in lymph node metastasis and overall prognosis. A total of 16 patients who had undergone total laryngectomy with neck dissection for advanced LSCC were randomly selected from our database: eight patients had lymph node metastasis (Group 1) and the other eight patients had no metastasis (Group 2). For each patient, paraffin-embedded tissue samples were collected from non-tumoral mucosa, tumoral lesions, and lymph node tissues. These tissue samples were used to extract RNA after cDNA synthesis, and microarray analysis was subsequently performed on each sample. Genetic alterations were determined in each specimen, and Groups 1 and 2 were compared and statistically analyzed.