Prognostic significance of molecular markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a multivariate analysis.
BACKGROUND
Multiple marker accumulation impacts tumor progression and biologic phenotypes affect clinical outcome of patients with head and neck cancer. Hence, this study investigated a battery of molecular markers that may help to reflect biologic aggressiveness and predict prognosis.


METHODS
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Stat3, H-ras, c-myc, p53, cyclin D1, p16, Rb, Ki-67, and Bcl-2 were localized immunohistochemically in 135 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients to assess prognostic value.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis of total patients, p53, Stat3, and p16 predicted both relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). In Cox multivariate analysis, after adjusting for tumor size, nodal status, and lymphatic permeation, p53 was independently associated with RFS and OS, and p16 with RFS only. In only early-stage patients, in univariate analysis, nuclear Stat3 was significant for RFS and OS.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunostaining of p53, p16, and Stat3 might serve as potential adjuncts in pathologic evaluation of oral tumors to predict risk of relapse.
Division of Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Cancer Biology, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Gujarat, India. dmegcri@yahoo.com
Neelam G
NG
Shah
Trupti I
TI
Trivedi
Rajen A
RA
Tankshali
Jignesh V
JV
Goswami
Dhaval H
DH
Jetly
Shilin N
SN
Shukla
Pankaj M
PM
Shah
Ramtej J
RJ
Verma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D056741:Cyclin D / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D056741:Cyclin D; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D066246:ErbB Receptors