title: Clinical significance of elevated osteopontin levels in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteopontin (OPN) is associated with several human malignancies, but the role of OPN in head and neck cancer (HNC) remains unclear. We investigated the clinicopathologic relevance of serum OPN levels in HNC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum OPN levels in HNC patients were determined by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA). OPN levels and their correlation with clinical features were examined. In addition, serum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen was examined simultaneously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean OPN level was significantly higher in HNC patients (99.5 ng/ml) than in control subjects (55.3 ng/ml). OPN levels were significantly higher in patients with advanced stage HNC than in patients with early stage HNC. OPN levels did not correlate with SCC antigen levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OPN may play a role in the pathogenesis of head and neck cancer (HNC), and serum OPN may be a potential biomarker of HNC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hazama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eto
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nomi
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000097:blood*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015843:Serpins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen; D053495:Osteopontin