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Arginine deprivation as a new treatment strategy for head and neck cancer

Cheng-Chih Huang1, Sen-Tien Tsai, Ching-Chuan Kuo

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Oral Oncology
|August 25, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) high expression predicts poor survival in head and neck cancer. Arginine deprivation therapy shows promise for treating these cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Arginine is a nonessential amino acid crucial for tumor growth.
  • Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) is the key enzyme in arginine synthesis.
  • The role of ASS and arginine deprivation therapy in head and neck cancer remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of ASS in head and neck cancers.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of arginine deprivation therapy in head and neck cancer models.
  • To determine the prognostic value of ASS in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Main Methods:

  • Assessed growth inhibition of head and neck cancer cells using arginine-free medium and arginine deiminase (ADI).
  • Immunohistochemically analyzed tumor ASS status in 73 OSCC patients.
  • Correlated ASS status with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival.

Main Results:

  • Arginine deprivation significantly inhibited head and neck cancer cell proliferation.
  • ADI treatment demonstrated varying degrees of growth inhibition across cell lines.
  • High tumor ASS levels independently predicted unfavorable disease-free survival in OSCC patients.
  • Knockdown of ASS enhanced ADI's growth-inhibitory effect.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated tumor ASS expression is a significant independent predictor of poor disease-free survival in OSCC.
  • Arginine deprivation therapy presents a potential novel therapeutic strategy for head and neck cancers.

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