Markers of neck failure in oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinomas treated with radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Neck management after radiotherapy remains controversial. It is not clear which patients may benefit from postradiotherapy neck dissection. Biologic markers may be useful in this setting.


METHODS
This study includes 81 patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinomas. The primary tumor had been treated with radical radiotherapy. Immunohistochemical staining to p53, ki-67, NEU, HSP-27, and GST has been performed.


RESULTS
There were 50 T1-2 and 31 T3-4 patients, as well as 36 NO and 45 N1-3. A total of 25 nodal failures was observed. With expressed HSP2, 23% of patients had neck failure compared with 51% when HSP-27 was absent (p = .02). With NEU overexpression, nodal control decreased from 72% to 34% (p = .008). In a Cox model, NEU (p = .01) and HSP-27 (p = .05) were associated with neck failure.


CONCLUSIONS
HSP-27 and NEU expression may play a role in predicting nodal failure. This should be confirmed in a larger, prospective study.
Fortin
A
A
Department of Radiation Oncology, de l'Université Laval, L'H tel-Dieu de Québec, PQ, Canada. afortin@videotron.ca
Raybaud-Diogène
H
H
Têtu
B
B
Huot
J
J
Blondeau
L
L
Landry
J
J
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor