Prognostic value of c-erbB2 and other markers in patients treated with chemotherapy for recurrent head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy is widely used in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer, but no clear markers are available that can predict response to treatment or survival in these patients.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients evaluated in this study had recurrent head and neck squamous carcinomas, previously treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy. Patients received either cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (n = 15) or cisplatin and paclitaxel (Taxol) (n = 14). Expression of c-erbB2, p53, glutathione S-transferase pi, multidrug resistance-associated protein, thymidylate synthase, and glutathione synthetase were evaluated in biopsy tissues.


RESULTS
Response to chemotherapy was significantly correlated with improved survival (progression-free survival, p =.0005; overall survival, p =. 007). Of the factors examined, expression of c-erbB2 was associated with significantly decreased progression-free survival (p =.023) and overall survival (p =.029). This was seen in patients treated with cisplatin/taxol but not in patients treated with cisplatin/5-FU.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of c-erbB2 may be a clinically useful predictor of survival in this group of patients.
Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University, 3800 Reservoir Rd, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
H
H
Shiga
A A
AA
Rasmussen
P G
PG
Johnston
M
M
Langmacher
A
A
Baylor
M
M
Lee
K J
KJ
Cullen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D017239:Paclitaxel; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases