The expression and correlation of NLK and PTEN in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2025.04.005

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To examine the expression levels of Nemo-like kinase (NLK) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and to assess the association between their expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of HNSCC patients, as well as the interrelationship between NLK and PTEN. METHODS: Gene expression data and clinical information for HNSCC patients were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Data processing was performed using the R programming language and Bioconductor packages, with data analysis facilitated by online platforms. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect NLK and PTEN expression in 32 HNSCC specimens to validate their correlation. RESULTS: The analysis of 520 cases collected from TCGA database showed that the expression of NLK and PTEN in HNSCC was significantly changed, and there were significant differences in gender, clinical stage, T stage, N stage and HPV infection cohort. In HNSCC of different sites, the expression of NLK and PTEN was also different. In addition, both the immunohistochemical results and the TCGA data analysis showed a negative correlation in the expression levels of NLK and PTEN. CONCLUSIONS: NLK and PTEN exhibit differential expression across HNSCC cohorts with distinct clinicopathological features, and their expression levels are inversely correlated.

Key words: NLK, PTEN, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Clinicopathological feature

CLC Number:

R739.8

Wu Guohao, Fu Bo, Zhang Di, Li Jun, Xu Kai, Li Keyi, Zhang Dongyan. The expression and correlation of NLK and PTEN in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2025, 23(4): 340-346.

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