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Over-expression of IQGAP1 indicates poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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Abstract

IQ-domain GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) is associated with the development and progression of many human cancers. We aimed to investigate the expression and clinicopathological significances of IQGAP1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this study, immunohistochemical staining of IQGAP1, co-inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules and macrophage markers were performed in human HNSCC samples to analyze the expression and correlation with clinicopathological characteristics. Immunoreactivity of IQGAP1 was also detected in immunocompetent mouse HNSCC tissue. We found that IQGAP1 expression level was significantly increased in human HNSCC compared with dysplasia and normal mucosa, and the expression of IQGAP1 in HNSCC was positively associated with advanced lymph node status. Besides, our data indicated that patients with higher IQGAP1 expression exhibited poor overall survival compared with patients with lower IQGAP1 expression. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that IQGAP1 expression was positively associated with TIM3, Galectin-9 (TIM3 ligand), B7H4, macrophage markers CD68 and CD163. In conclusion, these findings suggest that over-expression of IQGAP1 in human HNSCC may indicate poor prognosis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 81472528, 81672668, 81472529, 81672667. Zhi-Jun Sun was supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China 2042017kf0171 (Outstanding Young Scholars) and Hubei Province Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar 2017CFA062.

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Correspondence to Zhi-Jun Sun.

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This study was approved by the School and Hospital of Stomatology of Wuhan University Medical Ethics Committee (2014LUNSHENZI06).

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Zhi-Jun Sun is willing to handle correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication, also post-publication.

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Wu, CC., Li, H., Xiao, Y. et al. Over-expression of IQGAP1 indicates poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Mol Hist 49, 389–398 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-018-9779-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-018-9779-y

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