[Expression of gene BRMS1 and CD44v6 protein in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma and its clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate the expression of breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) and CD44v6 protein in supraglottic cancer and to evaluate its clinical significance.

Method: The expression of BRMS1 protein and CD44v6 protein were examined by using immunohistochemical method in 70 cases of paraffin-embedded supraglottic cancer tissues and their surrounding laryngeal normal mucosa tissues (LNT).

Result: The expression of BRMS1 protein in LNT of supraglottic cancer was positive, and the positive rate was 85.7% (60/70); in tumor tissue was negative or lower expression, and the positive rate was 35.7% (25/70). The expression of CD44v6 protein in tumor tissue of supraglottic cancer was positive, the positive rate was 82.9% (58/70), in LNT was negative. There was a significant difference in BRMS1 and CD44v6 protein expression between the supraglottic cancer tissue and LNT (P<0.01). The expression of BRMS1 and CD44v6 protein had correlation with clinical stage and pathologic differentiation and cervical lymph node metastasis of supraglottic cancer (P<0.01). No correlation was found between the two proteins expression and sex and age (P>0.05). The expression of BRMS1 protein was related to the expression of CD44v6 protein (r = -0.9042, P<0.01). Calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, there is no survival difference at 3-year between the group with positive BRMS1 protein expression and the group with negative BRMS1 protein expression in tumor tissues (P>0.05), there is a significant survival difference at 3-year between the group with positive CD44v6 protein expression and the group with negative CD44v6 protein expression in tumor tissues (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The expression of BRMS1 protein in supraglottic cancer is significantly decreased and the expression of CD44v6 protein in supraglottic cancer is significantly increased. The expression of BRMS1 protein and CD44v6 protein has a close relationship with pathologic differentiation and clinical stage and cervical lymph node metastasis of supraglottic cancer. Combined detection of the expression of them in supraglottic cancer may provide a significant parameter to judge the cervical lymph node metastasis of supraglottic cancer.