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Nalin J. Patel, MD; Anne Hansen, BS; Albert L. Merati, MD; Joseph E. Kerschner, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;130:1043-1045.

Background  The activation of signal transducer and activator of transduction (STAT) protein is thought to lead to the genesis of neoplasia by promoting cellular growth and preventing apoptosis, and by immune system modulation; STAT3 protein has also been implicated in tumor survival and propagation in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

Objectives  To investigate the presence and activation of STAT3 protein in papilloma specimens from subjects with RRP and compare findings with those obtained from control subjects' tissue.

Design  Laryngeal papilloma samples were collected from 8 nonselected consecutive patients undergoing surgery for RRP, and control samples of anterior tonsillar pillar mucosa were collected from 8 patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy. After extraction, we applied gel shifting to the nuclear protein using an electromotility shifting assay kit. Quantitative analysis of the gel shifts was performed, and levels of activated STAT3 protein in RRP specimens and tissue from controls were compared.

Results  There was STAT3 protein activation in the nuclear extracts of all (100%) RRP specimens, which was significantly more frequent than in normal epithelial tissue from controls (P<.03).

Conclusions  We conclude that STAT3 protein activation is present in RRP. However, further study is needed to determine if STAT3 protein activation is an important pathway through which human papillomavirus results in the propagation and persistence of RRP.

From the Divisions of Laryngology (Drs Patel and Merati), Pediatric Otolaryngology (Drs Patel and Kerschner), and Research (Drs Patel, Merati, and Kerschner, and Ms Hansen), Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article.

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