ZINC LEVELS, LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY, AND INSULIN BINDING IN LARYNGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA TISSUES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37219/z790ah21Keywords:
laryngeal squamous cells carcinoma, zinc, lactate dehydrogenase, insulinAbstract
Introduction: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (LSCC) and hypopharyngеal region is the significant diagnostic and therapeutic problem in the world. Early diagnosis of LSCC and the mechanisms of its development are the important factors for the successful treatment of disease. The recent COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has created a global health crisis that has long-lasting consequences. Potentially affecting categories of the population were patients with other diseases, including cancer.
Aim: Determination of the changes in markers of LSCC development: the activity of lactate dehydrogenase, the strength of insulin receptors and changes in zinc levels due to COVID-19 infection and morphological subtypes of LSCC.
Materials and methods: Tissue samples from 52 patients diagnosed with laryngeal squamous carcinoma were studied. The tissue was selected directly after surgical resection of the tumor. Histological sections were prepared on a microtome-cryostat (10 μm) and stained with N-(6-methoxy-8-quinolinyl)-4-methylenebenzenesulfonamide. They used for determination of zinc levels and FITC-insulin to assess insulin binding. Besides, the catalytic identification of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was performed in a medium of lactate, NAD+, and nitrotetrazolium blue to contrast the enzymatic reaction.
Results and discussion: The generalized data of zinc levels in malignant LSCC epithelium and tumor stroma do not differ from non-malignant laryngeal epithelium and healthy connective tissue. An increase in zinc content and LDH activity was found in non-keratinizing LSCC tumors relative to non-malignant laryngeal epithelium and connective tissue underneath. An increase in LDH activity was found in the stroma of LSCC tumors relative to healthy connective tissue. A decrease in the ratio of LDH activity of malignant epithelium/stroma was found in patients with keratinizing and non-keratinizing LSCC. Insulin binding by malignant LSCC epithelial tissues did not differ from that of non-malignant epithelium. No statistically significant difference in insulin binding by tumor stromal tissues and healthy connective tissue was found. The connective tissue surrounding the tumor had a large number of cells with a significant presence of insulin binding receptors. The influence of COVID-19 and vaccination on zinc levels, LDH activity, and the number of insulin receptors in LSCC tumors was not found.
Conclusions: Indicators of zinc content in malignant LSCC epithelium do not statistically differ from non-malignant epithelium, but in the connective tissue of non-keratinizing LSCC it tends to decrease. In the stroma of LSCC, LDH activity is significantly higher compared to healthy connective tissue. The level of insulin binding by non-malignant and malignant epithelium does not differ, and therefore the metabolic pathways associated with this ligand operate at the same level. In the stroma and in the tissues around the tumor, single or clusters of cells were found that have a significant presence of insulin-binding receptors on their surface. COVID-19 disease and vaccination do not affect the indicators of zinc levels, LDH activity and insulin binding by LSCC tissues.
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