Tumor-Associated Trypsin Inhibitor (TATI) as a Biomarker of Poor Prognosis in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Irrespective of HPV Status

Anni Sjöblom; Ulf-Håkan Stenman; Jaana Hagström; Lauri Jouhi; Caj Haglund; Stina Syrjänen; Petri Mattila; Antti Mäkitie; Timo Carpén

doi:10.3390/cancers13112811

Cancers (Jun 2021)

Tumor-Associated Trypsin Inhibitor (TATI) as a Biomarker of Poor Prognosis in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Irrespective of HPV Status

Anni Sjöblom,
Ulf-Håkan Stenman,
Jaana Hagström,
Lauri Jouhi,
Caj Haglund,
Stina Syrjänen,
Petri Mattila,
Antti Mäkitie,
Timo Carpén

Affiliations

Anni Sjöblom: Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 21, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Ulf-Håkan Stenman: Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 63, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Jaana Hagström: Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 21, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Lauri Jouhi: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 Helsinki, Finland
Caj Haglund: Research Programs Unit, Translational Cancer Biology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Stina Syrjänen: Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 2, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
Petri Mattila: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 Helsinki, Finland
Antti Mäkitie: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 Helsinki, Finland
Timo Carpén: Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 21, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13112811
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 11
p. 2811

Abstract

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Background: We studied the role of tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) in serum and in tumor tissues among human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC patients. Materials and methods: The study cohort included 90 OPSCC patients treated at the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland, in 2012–2016. TATI serum concentrations (S-TATIs) were determined by an immunofluorometric assay. Immunostaining was used to assess tissue expression. HPV status was determined with a combination of p16 immunohistochemistry and HPV DNA PCR genotyping. The survival endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results: A significant correlation was found between S-TATI positivity and poor OS (p p = 0.04) in all patients. In HPV-negative cases, S-TATI positivity was linked to poor OS (p = 0.01) and DSS (p = 0.05). In HPV-positive disease, S-TATI positivity correlated with poor DSS (p = 0.01). S-TATI positivity was strongly associated with HPV negativity. TATI serum was negatively linked to a lower cancer stage. TATI expression in peritumoral lymphocytes was associated with favorable OS (p < 0.025) and HPV positivity. TATI expression in tumor and in peritumoral lymphocytes correlated with lower cancer stages. Conclusion: Our results suggest that S-TATI positivity may be a biomarker of poor prognosis in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC.

Published in Cancers

ISSN: 2072-6694 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/

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