Nerve growth factor receptor (p75 NTR) and pattern of invasion predict poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The results were related to tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, invasive front grading (IFG) and prognosis.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemically, the expression of p75(NTR) was assessed in 53 T1-T2 OSCCs. Clinical data were recorded prospectively. The end-point was disease-free survival. All tumours expressed p75(NTR), and this expression, both in central/superficial tumour areas and at the invasive front, was associated with poor prognosis (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02) (log rank test). Tumours with marked cellular dissociation (IFG parameter) had more recurrences than tumours with collective tumour cell invasion (P = 0.03). In tumours showing both p75(NTR) at the invasive front and marked tumour cell dissociation, the average risk of recurrence was increased about 17 times (Cox regression analysis) compared with tumours with low p75(NTR) expression and collective invasion. Traditional prognostic systems were of no prognostic significance.


CONCLUSIONS
p75(NTR) was expressed in all OSCCs. p75(NTR) expression and the pattern of invasion were significantly associated with a poor prognosis in OSCCs, and both were better prognostic factors than traditional prognostic parameters. The combination of p75(NTR) expression and the pattern of invasion strongly increased precision in the identification of tumours with poor disease-free survival.
Department of Pathology and Forensic Odontology, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. tinehe@odont.uio.no
T M
TM
Søland
I J
IJ
Brusevold
H S
HS
Koppang
K
K
Schenck
M
M
Bryne
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C484065:NGFR protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor