Mucin Glycosylating Enzymes in Head and Neck Cancers

Expression of Mucin Glycosylating Enzymes in Head and Neck Cancers and Its Correlation With Clinico-pathological Parameters.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC) is the fourth common malignancy in Taiwan. It accounts for 5.8% of all cancers and causes 2,463 deaths per year. Aberrant glycosylation is the hallmark of most human cancers, including HNSCC, and affects many cellular properties. This study is aimed at exploring the role of mucin glycosylating enzymes in HNSCC.

Glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification of proteins. Aberrant glycosylation is the hallmark of most human cancers and affect many cellular properties, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, transformation, migration and immune response.

Though widely explored in various human cancers, the role of mucin glycosylating enzymes in HNSCC has not been elucidated. Our aims is to analyze the expression patterns of mucin glycosylating enzymes in HNSCC tissues. Furthermore, we will correlate the expression levels of mucin glycosylating enzymes with clinical characteristics of HNSCC patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Head and neck cancer patients receiving operation in National Taiwan University Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recurrence or non-operable patients