Characterising the epithelial-mesenchymal transition status of circulating tumour cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Karl Payne; Jill Brooks; Nikos Batis; Graham Taylor; Paul Nankivell; Hisham Mehanna

doi:10.1002/hed.27167

Characterising the epithelial-mesenchymal transition status of circulating tumour cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Karl Payne, Jill Brooks, Nikos Batis, Graham Taylor, Paul Nankivell, Hisham Mehanna

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumour cells (CTCs), in particular those undergoing an epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), are a promising source of biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Our aim was to validate a protocol using microfluidic enrichment (Parsortix platform) with flow-cytometry CTC characterisation.

METHOD: Blood samples from 20 treatment naïve HNSCC patients underwent Parsortix enrichment and flow-cytometry analysis to quantify CTCs and identify epithelial or EMT sub-groups - correlated to EMT gene-expression in tumour tissue.

RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 65% of patients (mean count 4 CTCs/ml). CTCs correlated with advanced disease (p=0.0121), but not T or N stage. Epithelial or EMT CTCs did not correlate with progression-free or overall-survival. Tumour mesenchymal gene-expression did not correlate with CTC EMT expression (p=0.347).

DISCUSSION: Microfluidic enrichment and flow-cytometry successfully characterises EMT CTCs in HNSCC. The lack of association between tumour and CTC EMT profile suggests may undergo an adaptive EMT in response to stimuli within the circulation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Number of pages	10
Journal	Head & Neck
Volume	44
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27167
Publication status	Published - 5 Aug 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding: Cancer Research UK. Grant Number: C11497/A28789 and British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Keywords

CTC
EMT
HNSCC
biomarker
liquid biopsy

Access to Document

10.1002/hed.27167Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

PayneK2022CharacterizingFinal published version, 1.89 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Validating a novel method for the isolation and single-cell characterisation of circulating tumour cells in head and neck cancer: a step towards personalised medicine
Mehanna, H., Yau, C., Payne, K. & Nankivell, P.
Cancer Research Uk
1/10/19 → 31/12/24
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Characterising the epithelial-mesenchymal transition status of circulating tumour cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Circulating tumour cells (CTCs), in particular those undergoing an epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), are a promising source of biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Our aim was to validate a protocol using microfluidic enrichment (Parsortix platform) with flow-cytometry CTC characterisation. METHOD: Blood samples from 20 treatment na{\"i}ve HNSCC patients underwent Parsortix enrichment and flow-cytometry analysis to quantify CTCs and identify epithelial or EMT sub-groups - correlated to EMT gene-expression in tumour tissue.RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 65% of patients (mean count 4 CTCs/ml). CTCs correlated with advanced disease (p=0.0121), but not T or N stage. Epithelial or EMT CTCs did not correlate with progression-free or overall-survival. Tumour mesenchymal gene-expression did not correlate with CTC EMT expression (p=0.347). DISCUSSION: Microfluidic enrichment and flow-cytometry successfully characterises EMT CTCs in HNSCC. The lack of association between tumour and CTC EMT profile suggests may undergo an adaptive EMT in response to stimuli within the circulation. ",

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author = "Karl Payne and Jill Brooks and Nikos Batis and Graham Taylor and Paul Nankivell and Hisham Mehanna",

note = "Funding: Cancer Research UK. Grant Number: C11497/A28789 and British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons",

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AU - Payne, Karl

AU - Brooks, Jill

AU - Batis, Nikos

AU - Taylor, Graham

AU - Nankivell, Paul

AU - Mehanna, Hisham

N1 - Funding: Cancer Research UK. Grant Number: C11497/A28789 and British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

PY - 2022/8/5

Y1 - 2022/8/5

N2 - BACKGROUND: Circulating tumour cells (CTCs), in particular those undergoing an epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), are a promising source of biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Our aim was to validate a protocol using microfluidic enrichment (Parsortix platform) with flow-cytometry CTC characterisation. METHOD: Blood samples from 20 treatment naïve HNSCC patients underwent Parsortix enrichment and flow-cytometry analysis to quantify CTCs and identify epithelial or EMT sub-groups - correlated to EMT gene-expression in tumour tissue.RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 65% of patients (mean count 4 CTCs/ml). CTCs correlated with advanced disease (p=0.0121), but not T or N stage. Epithelial or EMT CTCs did not correlate with progression-free or overall-survival. Tumour mesenchymal gene-expression did not correlate with CTC EMT expression (p=0.347). DISCUSSION: Microfluidic enrichment and flow-cytometry successfully characterises EMT CTCs in HNSCC. The lack of association between tumour and CTC EMT profile suggests may undergo an adaptive EMT in response to stimuli within the circulation.

AB - BACKGROUND: Circulating tumour cells (CTCs), in particular those undergoing an epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), are a promising source of biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Our aim was to validate a protocol using microfluidic enrichment (Parsortix platform) with flow-cytometry CTC characterisation. METHOD: Blood samples from 20 treatment naïve HNSCC patients underwent Parsortix enrichment and flow-cytometry analysis to quantify CTCs and identify epithelial or EMT sub-groups - correlated to EMT gene-expression in tumour tissue.RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 65% of patients (mean count 4 CTCs/ml). CTCs correlated with advanced disease (p=0.0121), but not T or N stage. Epithelial or EMT CTCs did not correlate with progression-free or overall-survival. Tumour mesenchymal gene-expression did not correlate with CTC EMT expression (p=0.347). DISCUSSION: Microfluidic enrichment and flow-cytometry successfully characterises EMT CTCs in HNSCC. The lack of association between tumour and CTC EMT profile suggests may undergo an adaptive EMT in response to stimuli within the circulation.

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Characterising the epithelial-mesenchymal transition status of circulating tumour cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Validating a novel method for the isolation and single-cell characterisation of circulating tumour cells in head and neck cancer: a step towards personalised medicine

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