BACKGROUND: To determine if tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors are upregulated in tumor cells, we measured the distribution and levels of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta, and TNF receptors RI and RII, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumor specimens and normal control specimens. METHODS: HNSCC and control tissue specimens were analyzed qualitatively using immunohistochemistry and quantitatively using immunoassays. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, TNF RI, and TNF RII antigens were associated predominately with tumor cells in the tissue. Quantitative analysis of TNF factors and receptors in tissue homogenates (mean levels +/- standard error of the mean, in pg/mg of total protein) indicated that: (1) TNF-alpha levels in cancer patients were not statistically different from levels in normal tissues (7.27 +/- 0.91 versus 4.62 +/- 1.33, respectively, P < 0.11); (2) TNF-beta levels in cancer patients were one third of those in normal tissue (5.07 +/- 1.83 versus 16.06 +/- 3.26, respectively, P < 0.01); and (3) both TNF RI and TNF RII levels were consistently elevated two- to four-fold in the cancer tissue when compared to normal tissue levels (1,228.72 +/- 125.67 versus 650.33 +/- 187.70, P < 0.01; and 823.39 +/- 95.90 versus 230.03 +/- 153.01, P < 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In HNSCC, enhanced expression of TNF receptors on the cancer cells occurs and is likely to contribute to the regulation of TNF and its activation of tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment; targeting these receptors in cancer cells may provide a new approach to controlling tumor growth and metastasis.
BACKGROUND: To determine if tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors are upregulated in tumor cells, we measured the distribution and levels of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta, and TNF receptors RI and RII, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumor specimens and normal control specimens. METHODS: HNSCC and control tissue specimens were analyzed qualitatively using immunohistochemistry and quantitatively using immunoassays. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, TNF RI, and TNF RII antigens were associated predominately with tumor cells in the tissue. Quantitative analysis of TNF factors and receptors in tissue homogenates (mean levels +/- standard error of the mean, in pg/mg of total protein) indicated that: (1) TNF-alpha levels in cancerpatients were not statistically different from levels in normal tissues (7.27 +/- 0.91 versus 4.62 +/- 1.33, respectively, P < 0.11); (2) TNF-beta levels in cancerpatients were one third of those in normal tissue (5.07 +/- 1.83 versus 16.06 +/- 3.26, respectively, P < 0.01); and (3) both TNF RI and TNF RII levels were consistently elevated two- to four-fold in the cancer tissue when compared to normal tissue levels (1,228.72 +/- 125.67 versus 650.33 +/- 187.70, P < 0.01; and 823.39 +/- 95.90 versus 230.03 +/- 153.01, P < 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In HNSCC, enhanced expression of TNF receptors on the cancer cells occurs and is likely to contribute to the regulation of TNF and its activation of tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment; targeting these receptors in cancer cells may provide a new approach to controlling tumor growth and metastasis.
Authors: A J Staal-van den Brekel; A M Schols; M A Dentener; G P ten Velde; W A Buurman; E F Wouters Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 1997 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: D C Duffey; C V Crowl-Bancroft; Z Chen; F G Ondrey; M Nejad-Sattari; G Dong; C Van Waes Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2000-11 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Nicolae-Costin Diaconu; Jaana Rummukainen; Mikko Mättö; Anita Naukkarinen; Rauno J Harvima; Jukka Pelkonen; Ilkka T Harvima Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2008-02-07 Impact factor: 4.430