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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
08:59

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: January 5, 2017

Epithelial cell nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma pathogenesis

Dario Garcia Carracedo1, Juan Pablo Rodrigo, Carlos Suarez Nieto

  • 1Instituto Universitario de Oncologia del Principado de Asturias, Obra Social CajAstur (IUOPA), c/ Celestino Villamil s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.

Anticancer Research
|May 1, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) alpha3, alpha5, and alpha7 subunits were found in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues. Their expression did not correlate with the PI3-K/Akt/PTEN pathway, suggesting alternative signaling mechanisms in HNSCC development.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activation by nicotine and its downstream molecular events remain largely uncharacterized.
  • The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt/PTEN pathway is hypothesized to mediate nicotine's antiapoptotic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential involvement of alpha3, alpha5, and alpha7 nAChR subunits in activating the PI3-K/Akt/PTEN pathway within head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  • To explore the relationship between nAChR subunit expression and HNSCC development.

Main Methods:

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted from 30 HNSCC tissue samples with documented Akt activation status.
  • Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to analyze the expression levels of alpha3, alpha5, and alpha7 nAChR subunits.

Main Results:

  • Alpha3, alpha5, and alpha7 nAChR subunits were expressed in 3.33%, 50%, and 33.33% of HNSCC samples, respectively.
  • No significant correlation was observed between the expression of these nAChR subunits and pAkt levels or clinicopathological parameters.

Conclusions:

  • This study presents the first analysis of nAChR subunit expression in human HNSCC tissues with known pAkt levels.
  • The findings suggest that nAChRs may signal through pathways independent of the PI3-K/Akt/PTEN pathway in HNSCC.
  • Expression of alpha3, alpha5, or alpha7 nAChR subunits may not serve as reliable prognostic markers for HNSCC.

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