Biological and clinical significance of p75^NTR expression in laryngeal squamous epithelia and laryngocarcinoma

Abstract

Conclusion: The apparent features of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR) expression indicated that p75^NTR would serve as a potential stem cell marker for normal human laryngeal squamous epithelia. In human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) p75^NTR is differentially expressed. The abnormal expression and distribution of p75^NTR may indicate malignant transformation. Objective: To investigate the expression of p75^NTR and its possible roles in normal laryngeal squamous epithelia and LSCC. Methods: We used immunohistochemistry methods to examine normal laryngeal epithelia, para-cancer mucosa with dysplasia, laryngeal papilloma, and LSCC specimens for the expression of p75^NTR, nerve growth factor (NGF), -tyrosine kinase receptor (TrkA), p63, and Ki67. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry were used to examine the expression of p75^NTR in Hep-2 cells. Results: The expression of p75^NTR was only located in basal cells of normal laryngeal epithelia, consistent with the staining features of epithelial stem cells as evidenced by parallel staining of p63, a putative keratinocyte stem cell marker. p75^NTR is differentially expressed in LSCC, although no significant relationship was found with many clinicopathologic factors, this expression and distribution may correlate to malignant transformation and tumor proliferation. Co-expression of p75^NTR and CD133 was confirmed, showing the association of p75^NTR-positive cells with cancer stem cells in Hep-2 cells.

Keywords::

• Stem cell marker
• cancer stem cells
• CSCs
• immunohistochemistry

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Zhenfeng Tao for assistance in collecting the clinical data and Dr Qi Song in retrieving the associated literature. We are also grateful to Dr Jimin Cheng and Dr Yanli Liu for their kind suggestions in the descriptive pathology of the manuscript. This work was supported in part by scientific research funding from the Bethune International Peace Hospital.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.