Author/Editor     Smerkolj, Sava; Volavšek, Metka; Glavač, Damjan
Title     Detection of the status of tumour-infiltrating CD4+ T-cell subpopulations in squqmous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) using real-time RT-PCR detection of CD4 mRNA
Type     članek
Source     Cell Mol Biol Lett
Vol. and No.     Letnik 12
Publication year     2007
Volume     str. 308-16
Language     eng
Abstract     Several studies have reported tumour infiltrating CD4+ T cells as a favourable prognostic factor in some types of cancer. We investigated 37 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) at different stages, using imnmnohistochemical staining for CD4+ infiltrates and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of CD4 mRNA. The CD4+ infiltrates were evaluated and expressed as a percentage according to the ratio of CD4+ T cells to epithelial cells in the cancer cell nests and to the overall inflammatory cell infiltrate in the tumor stroma. The CD4 mRNA expression level strongly correlated with the CD4+ infiltration score in the cancer epithelium (rs = 0.858, P < 0.001) and in the cancer stroma (rs = 0.797, P < 0.001). These results indicate that the real-time RT-PCR assay is a sensitive and reliable method for the detection of CD4 mRNA, and that it could he used to reassess CD4+ infiltration status in resected specimens from patients with HNSCC.
Descriptors     HEAD AND NECK NEOPLASMS
CARCINOMA, SMALL CELL
CD4-POSITIVE T-LYMPHOCYTES
LYMPHOCYTES, TUMOR-INFILTRATING
RNA, MESSENGER
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
BLOTTING, WESTERN