TP53 and c-myc Co-alterations: A hallmark of oral cancer progression

Abstract

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, including oral cancer, is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Despite advances in surgery and treatment, the 5-year survival rate has not improved significantly. Therefore, reliable molecular markers for oral cancer progression are badly needed. Methods: We conducted a copy number analysis to estimate amplification status of c-myc, cycD1 and EGFR oncogenes, mutational PCR-SSCP analysis to determine activation of H-ras oncogene and inactivation of TP53 tumour suppressor gene and methylation specific PCR analysis to evaluate hypermethylation of p16 and MGMT genes. Results: c-myc oncogene was amplified in 56.7%, cycDI in 20% and EGFR in 16.7% of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) cases while H-ras was activated in 33.3% of samples. Amplification of c-myc was significantly associated with the tumour grade 2. Interestingly, EGFR and H-ras alterations were mutually exclusive. p16 and MGMT were inactivated by hypermethylation in 30% and 13.3% of cases. Co-alteration of cycDI and p16 were not observed in any of the analyzed samples. TP53 was inactivated in 56.7% of samples and was significantly associated with progression of OSCC, grade 2 and stage 2. Moreover, TP53 and c-myc oncogene were simultaneously altered in grade 2 OSCC. Conclusions: The most promising marker of OSCC progression remains the TP53 tumour suppressor, which is the most frequently mutated gene in oral cancers. Since there is synergism between TP53 and c-myc, it seems that co-alteration of these two genes could be also a good marker of OSCC progression from grade1 to grade 2 tumours.

Keywords

• c-myc
• oncogenes
• oral squamous cell carcinoma
• tp53
• tumour progression
• tumour suppressors