Prognostic relevance of TrkC in the adjacent mucosa of HNSCC

The mucosa adjacent to the tumor can provide information for assessing the risk of recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This histopathologically unremarkable tissue may have mutations or marker expression that allow assessment of tumor progression. The receptor tyrosine kinase TrkC, which binds the neuronal growth factor neurotrophin-3, also plays a role in the tumor biology of HNSCC. In this study, TrkC expression of the adjacent mucosa of HNSCC was investigated.

Immunohistochemically detected TrkC expression in tumor samples (carcinoma and mucosa) from the oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal regions of n=72 patients was analyzed with reference to tumor location, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and HPV status.

Strong TrkC expression in the adjacent mucosa of HPV-negative HNSCC was associated with shorter DFS. HPV-induced carcinomas showed decreased TrkC- expression in the adjacent mucosa.

The present study indicates that TrkC expression in the mucosa adjacent to the carcinoma has clinical relevance and correlates with DFS. For the interpretation of these results, own previous work has to be considered, which showed that TrkC expression in carcinoma is associated with a better differentiation status, especially the occurrence of keratin pearls. A more complex role for TrkC in HNSCC can be assumed and further studies are needed to explore this.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022