Reliability of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor as a prognostic factor for oral and oropharyngeal carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To identify a strong prognostic biological marker for patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.


METHODS
We evaluated the protein expressions of 26 tumor-associated factors, including cytokines and cytokine receptors (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF], interleukin 10 [IL-10], G-CSF receptor [G-CSFR], and IL-12 receptor); angiogenic factors (platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor [PD-ECGF] and vessel count); cell cycle-related proteins (p27, cyclin D1, and cyclin E); apoptosis-related factors (wild-type p53, Bax, Bcl-2, apoptotic index, Fas, and Fas ligand); oncogene proteins (c-fos and c-Myc); cell-surface proteins (P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein, nm23, and CD40); intracellular proteins (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and heat shock protein 27); and DNA mismatch-repair genes (protein encoded by human mutL homologue 1 and the human mutS homologue of the chromosome 2p gene) by means of immunohistochemical analysis.


METHODS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients who underwent surgical resections of oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.


RESULTS
A low-level PD-ECGF expression, a hypovascular count, or a low-level G-CSFR expression was associated with a favorable clinical outcome using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis showed that PD-ECGF expression (odds, 4.19; P = .02), G-CSFR expression (odds, 4.10; P = .01), and vessel count (odds, 2.80; P = .04) had significant hazard rates. When multivariate analysis was performed on 6 factors, including sex, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, PD-ECGF expression, G-CSFR expression, and vessel count, patients with a positive expression of PD-ECGF had the highest relative risk value for death due to the disease (odds, 4.94; P = .01). Also, G-CSFR was an independent prognostic indicator in the model (odds, 3.29; P = .04). No correlations between other factors and prognoses were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of PD-ECGF was the most effective marker for making prognoses for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas, and G-CSFR expression was the second most effective among 26 tumor-associated factors.
Tsuzuki
Hideaki
H
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Fukui, Yoshida, Japan. hideaki@fmsrsa.fukui-med.ac.jp
Sunaga
Hiroshi
H
Ito
Toshihisa
T
Narita
Norihiko
N
Sugimoto
Chizuru
C
Fujieda
Shigeharu
S
D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016188:Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016188:Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase