title: Bcl-2 as prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: A series of 66 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was retrospectively analyzed by immunohisto-chemistry for bcl-2 expression to verify its predictive value for clinical outcome in patients with OSCC. After grouping for bcl-2 expression, OSCCs were statistically analyzed for the variables age, gender, histological grading (G), TNM, staging, recurrence, and overall survival rate. Univariate and multivariate (Cox regression) analyses were performed. Thirty-six OSCC (54.5%) showed expression for bcl-2, whereas 30 (44.5%) were negative. No statistical association was found between bcl-2 expression and any variables considered at baseline. Overall disease-specific survival rate at 72 months was 51%, independently from the extent of the tumor. In terms of prognostic significance, the bcl-2-positive group showed more than 60% survival at 72 months whereas the bcl-2-negative group showed none. An independent association of bcl-2 expression was found with an improved overall survival rate (p = 0.048), although grading and staging were established to be the best baseline markers of prognosis. On the basis of these results, it is possible to suggest bcl-2 as an early marker of prognosis: lack of bcl-2 expression could constitute a hallmark of aggressive biological behavior in OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. lomuziol@tin.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Muzio
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falaschini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.forename: Furio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pezzetti
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campisi
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capogreco
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carinci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2