The over expression of cathelicidin peptide LL37 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: The peptide marker for the prognosis of cancer

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Gill, Kamaldeep^a | Mohanti, Bidhu Kalyan^b | Singh, Abhay Kumar^a | Mishra, Biswajit^a | Dey, Sharmistha^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India | [b] Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Dr. Sharmistha Dey, Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India. Tel.: +91 11 2616 3879; Fax: +91 11 2658 8663; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: The over expression of LL37, an antimicrobial peptide belonging~to the cathelicidin family has implication in the progression of human malignancy but the exact role is still not clear. This study aims to elucidate the correlation of LL37 with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) and the consequences of radiotherapy on it. The LL37 levels were quantified in serum samples of control and HNSCC patients at pre-RT, during-RT and post-RT using a real time Surface Plasmon Resonance technology and ELISA. The LL37 of 50 HNSCC patients was significantly (p< 0.0001) threefold higher than the 25 controls and declined with respect to radiation therapy (p< 0.0001) supporting its candidature as a prognostic marker in HNSCC.

Keywords: LL37, HNSCC, radiation therapy, prognostic marker

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-2012-0238

Journal: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 125-134, 2012