title: The prognostic utility of haptoglobin genotypes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine whether haptoglobin (Hp) genotypes are associated with prognosis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied patients with HNSCC without distant metastasis at diagnosis. The Hp genotype of each patient was determined and the prognostic significance of the Hp genotype was further analyzed. Pearson's chi(2)-test or Fisher's exact test were used to analyze correlations between Hp genotype and clinical characteristics of HNSCC. Eighty patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC who were treated with curative modality were enrolled in this study. Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank test were used to compare locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant-metastasis-free survival and overall survival of patients according to Hp genotype. Survival analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC were enrolled in this study. There was no significant difference in the distribution of Hp genotypes in HNSCC patients and healthy individuals (p=0.959). Matched-pair analysis showed that locoregional recurrence-free survival was poor (p=0.02) for HNSCC patients with Hp 2-2 or 2-0. There was no significant difference in distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival (p=0.422 and 0.509, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that Hp 2-2 or 2-0 was associated with an increased risk of locoregional recurrence [Hazard ratio (HR) 5.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-6.65; p=0.038]. The risk was still higher in patients with Hp 2-2 or 2-0 after further adjusting for age and treatment modality (HR 7.6; 95% CI, 1.2-46; p=0.028) in locoregional recurrence-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data show that the Hp genotype is closely related to recurrence rate in patients with HNSCC. Patients with Hp 2-2 or 2-0 have greater locoregional recurrence and significantly increased HRs in multivariate analysis. The Hp genotype may be a prognostic factor in patients with HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Moon-Sing
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hsu-Chueh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Shih-Kai
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Ya-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Yu-Chieh
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins