Expression of Keratin-1 Predicts Recurrence and Treatment Response in Advanced Laryngeal Cancer: A Potential Therapeutic Target
by
, , , , and
Eun Kyung Jung
1,†, 
S M Abdus Salam
2,3,†,
Hye-Bin Jang
1,
Joo Yeon Koo
2,
Eshrat Jahan
2,3,
Sun-Ae Kim
1,
Ji Young Lee
2,
Kyung-Hwa Lee
2,4,* and
Tae Mi Yoon
1,* 1
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Gwangju 58128, Republic of Korea
2
Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Gwangju 58128, Republic of Korea
3
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Gwangju 58128, Republic of Korea
4
Department of BioMedical Sciences Graduate Program (BMSGP), Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical School, Gwangju 58128, Republic of Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(9), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32090520
Submission received: 30 July 2025
/
Revised: 11 September 2025
/
Accepted: 15 September 2025
/
Published: 17 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Head and Neck Oncology)
Simple Summary
Advanced laryngeal cancer is challenging to treat, and overall survival rates have not been improved compared to advancements in treatment methods. The high rate of disease recurrence in advanced laryngeal cancer contributes to poor outcomes. This study investigates the role of Keratin-1 (KRT1), identified through RNA sequencing as a potential target molecule for laryngeal cancer, in the tumor progression and chemoradioresistance of laryngeal cancer cells. These findings suggest that KRT1 plays a critical role in the progression and chemoradioresistance of laryngeal cancer and may serve as a promising therapeutic target. Although these results are preliminary, we propose that KRT1 may function as an innovative biomarker for predicting prognosis and aid in patient selection for concurrent chemoradiotherapy for laryngeal cancer treatment.
Abstract
The survival rate of patients with advanced laryngeal cancer has not substantially improved over time. RNA sequencing analysis identified Keratin-1 (KRT1) as a gene potentially associated with cancer recurrence. This study investigated the association between KRT1 expression and recurrence in advanced laryngeal cancer. RNA sequencing was performed to identify candidate genes associated with recurrence. The effects of KRT1 expression on clinical outcomes were evaluated in patients with laryngeal cancer. Multiple experimental techniques were utilized. RNA sequencing of patient samples demonstrated higher KRT1 gene expression in the recurrence group than in non-recurrent cases. Patients with KRT1-positive immunostaining exhibited trends of worse overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). In vitro studies showed that KRT1 knockdown suppressed tumor cell invasion, cell migration, and expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines. KRT1 knockdown enhanced tumor cell apoptosis and exhibited synergistic effects with conventional radiation and chemotherapy treatments. KRT1 may serve as a biomarker for predicting advanced laryngeal cancer recurrence and assist with selecting patients to receive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Further molecular investigations are warranted to determine its effects, but KRT1 has potential as a therapeutic target.
