Co-overexpression of p21 and Ki-67 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma relative to a significantly poor prognosis.
BACKGROUND
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are treated by surgery or radiotherapy. Tumor cell death-related markers, such as p21 and Ki-67, may predict response to therapy and improve treatment choice. We evaluated and compared the effect of their coexpression between patients treated by surgery or radiotherapy.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry for p21 and Ki-67 expression in 144 pharyngeal and laryngeal HNSCC samples was analyzed and correlated with follow-up parameters.


RESULTS
p21 expression correlated significantly with positive cN classification (p < .001), locoregional relapse (p = .031), and poor overall survival (p = .016), and Ki-67 positivity with poor survival only (p = .025). Coexpressing tumor phenotypes showed the worst survival (p = .009), observed primarily in patients treated by radiotherapy (p = .077).


CONCLUSIONS
Coexpression of p21/Ki-67 is a strong negative prognostic factor in HNSCC and could be of particular relevance in tumors treated by primary radiotherapy.
Fischer
Claude A
CA
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. cfischer@uhbs.ch
Jung
Minoa
M
Zlobec
Inti
I
Green
Edith
E
Storck
Claudio
C
Tornillo
Luigi
L
Lugli
Alessandro
A
Wolfensberger
Markus
M
Terracciano
Luigi M
LM
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors