Copy number increase of oncoprotein CIP 2A is associated with poor patient survival in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of oral pathology & medicine Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 329 - 337
• Main Authors: Routila, Johannes, Bilgen, Türker, Saramäki, Outi, Grénman, Reidar, Visakorpi, Tapio, Westermarck, Jukka, Ventelä, Sami
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2016
• ISSN: 0904-2512; 1600-0714
• DOI: 10.1111/jop.12372

Background CIP 2A, an inhibitor of PP 2A tumour suppressor function, is a widely overexpressed biomarker of aggressive disease and poor therapy response in multiple human cancer types. Methods CIP 2A and DPPA 4 copy number alterations and expression were analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation ( FISH ) and immunohistochemistry ( IHC ) in different cell lines and a tissue microarray of 52 HNSCC patients. Results were correlated with patient survival and other clinicopathological data. Results CIP 2A and DPPA 4 copy number increase occurred at a relatively high frequency in human HNSCC patient samples. CIP 2A but not DPPA 4 FISH status was significantly associated with patient survival. CIP 2A detection by combining IHC with FISH yielded superior resolution in the prognostication of HNSCC . Conclusions CIP 2A copy number increase is associated with poor patient survival in human HNSCC . We suggest that the reliability and prognostic value of CIP 2A detection can be improved by performing FISH analysis to CIP 2A IHC positive tumours.