FAS and ErbB2 expression in early local recurrent oral cancer.
BACKGROUND
Local failure occurs in 13.9-62.6% and it is a well known indicator of poor prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), despite aggressive treatments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of histopathology and molecular biomarkers in predicting the development of early local recurrence.


METHODS
This study included a total of 69 patients. There were 23 patients with early recurrent OSCC and 46 patients without local recurrence with the same clinical stage and tumor site, in a pair-matched study design. Their charts were retrospectively analyzed. All surgical specimens of the primary tumors were evaluated according to the system proposed by Anneroth et al. and immunohistochemical for ErbB2 and FAS were performed.


RESULTS
A significant correlation of early local recurrence with grade of histological malignancy (more than 15 points) was observed (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.03). Early local recurrence was also significantly associated with weak FAS expression and strong intracytoplasmic ErbB2 staining (Mantel-Haenszal chi-square, P = 0.0038 and P = 0.0068, respectively). Histological grade of malignancy (more than 15 points) was also correlated with reduced survival (log-rank, P = 0.06). Among the histopathological parameters, keratinization, pattern of invasion and inflammation were important for overall survival (log-rank, P < 0.0001). Regarding the biomarkers, only FAS was significantly associated with overall survival (log-rank, P = 0.0002). Moreover, a positive correlation of FAS and membrane ErbB2 expression with keratinization was noticed.


CONCLUSIONS
Histopathological characteristics and the expression of FAS and ErbB2 carry prognosis importance in local recurrence and overall survival in OSCC.
Pinto
L S S
LS
Oral Semiology and Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Sao Paulo.
de Aguiar
F C A
FC
Kowalski
L P
LP
Graner
E
E
Lopes
M A
MA
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D018734:Genes, erbB-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007633:Keratins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D019014:fas Receptor; C491901:FAS protein, human; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human