ErbB1 and ErbB2 overexpression in patients with sinonasal inverted papilloma and inverted papilloma with squamous cell carcinoma in China

Abstract

Background: Currently, the expression patterns of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family genes in sinonasal inverted papilloma (SNIP) and inverted papilloma with squamous cell carcinoma (IPwSCC) are not clear.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the expression of EGFR family members and their ligands in SNIP and IPwSCC and to analyze their correlations with SNIP histological grade and Krouse stage.

Materials and methods: Data from 25 cases of inverted papilloma patients in China were collected and divided into 16 cases in the SNIP group and 9 in the IPwSCC group. In addition, eight cases of normal nasal mucosa (NNM) were collected and used as the control group. The expression levels of EGFR family members and their ligands in the NNM and SNIP groups and EGFR family members in the IPwSCC group were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR. In addition, their correlations with the SNIP histological grade and Krouse stage were analyzed. The statistical analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism 7.0 statistical software.

Results: The ErbB1 and ErbB2 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly higher in the SNIP group than in the NNM group (p < .01). The ErbB1 and ErbB2 protein expression levels were significantly higher in the IPwSCC group than those in the NNM and SNIP groups (p < .01). The ErbB1 and ErbB2 mRNA and protein expression levels in the SNIP group were positively correlated with the SNIP dysplasia grade.

Conclusion: Upregulation of ErbB1 and ErbB2 expression may be associated with SNIP pathogenesis and carcinogenesis.

Chinese abstract

背景：目前, 表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）家族基因在鼻腔鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤（SNIP）和鳞状细胞癌（IPwSCC）的乳头状瘤中的表达模式尚不清楚。

目的：本研究旨在探讨EGFR家族基因及其配体在SNIP和IPwSCC中的表达, 并分析其与SNIP组织学分级和Krouse分期的相关性。

材料和方法：收集中国25例乳头状瘤患者的资料, 分为SNIP组（16例）和IPwSCC组（9例）。另外, 收集8例正常鼻粘膜（NNM）并将其用作对照组。使用免疫组织化学和qRT-PCR评估NNM组和SNIP组中EGFR家族基因及其配体的表达水平, 并评估IPwSCC组中EGFR家族基因的表达水平。此外, 还分析了它们与SNIP组织学分级和Krouse分期的相关性。使用GraphPad Prism 7.0统计软件进行统计学分析。

结果：SNIP组的ErbB1和ErbB2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平明显高于NNM组（p <.01）。 IPwSCC组的ErbB1和ErbB2蛋白表达水平显著高于NNM和SNIP组（p <.01）。 SNIP组的ErbB1和ErbB2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平与SNIP发育不良等级呈正相关。

结论：ErbB1和ErbB2表达上调可能与SNIP发病机制和致癌作用有关。

Keywords:

• Epidermal growth factor receptor
• inverted papilloma
• carcinogenesis
• immunohistochemistry
• ErbB2

Author contributions

Hongbing Li, Li Hu and Huankang Zhang performed the experiments and measurements. Hongbing Li processed the experimental data, performed the analysis, worked on the manuscript and designed the figures and tables. Dehui Wang was involved in planning and supervising the work and provided final approval of the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Shanghai Shenkang Hospital Development Center/New Frontier Technology Joint Research Program (Project number SHDC12018118).