FTH1 indicates poor prognosis and promotes metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

PeerJ. 2023 Nov 17:11:e16493. doi: 10.7717/peerj.16493. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Background: Currently, ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) has been increasingly found to play a crucial role in cancer as a core regulator of ferroptosis, while its role of non-ferroptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is still unclear.

Methods: Herein, we analyzed the expression level of FTH1 in HNSCC using TCGA database, and FTH1 protein in HNSCC tissues and cell lines was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting, respectively. Then, its prognostic value and relationship with clinical parameters were investigated in HNSCC patients. Additionally, the biological function of FTH1 in HNSCC was explored.

Results: The current study showed that FTH1 is significantly overexpressed in HNSCC tissues and related to poor prognosis and lymph node metastasis of HNSCC. FTH1 knockdown could suppress the metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of HNSCC.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that FTH1 plays a critical role in the progression and metastasis of HNSCC and can serve as a promising prognostic factor and therapeutic target in HNSCC.

Keywords: Biomarker; FTH1 (ferritin heavy chain); HNSCC (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma); Metastasis; Prognosis.

MeSH terms

  • Apoferritins
  • Ferritins / genetics
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Prognosis
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / genetics

Substances

  • Apoferritins
  • FTH1 protein, human
  • Ferritins
  • Oxidoreductases

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the Hunan provincial Health and Family Planning Commission (B202307019501, 202103030223, 20201947, B20180186), the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2021JJ40502, 2019JJ50547). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.