title: Prolactin receptor is a negative prognostic factor in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of human prolactin (hPRL) on the development of breast and other types of cancer is well established. Little information, however, exists on the effects of hPRL on squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHNs).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we evaluated prolactin receptor (PRLR) expression in SCCHN cell lines and assessed by immunohistochemistry the expression in 89 patients with SCCHNs. The PRLR expression was correlated with clinicopathological characteristics as well as clinical outcome. The effect of hPRL treatment on tumour cell growth was evaluated in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunoreactivity for PRLR was observed in 85 out of 89 (95%) tumours. Multivariate COX regression analysis confirmed high levels of PRLR expression (>25% of tumour cells) to be an independent prognostic factor with respect to overall survival (HR=3.70, 95% CI: 1.14-12.01; P=0.029) and disease-free survival (P=0.017). Growth of PRLR-positive cancer cells increased in response to hPRL treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that hPRL is an important growth factor for SCCHN. Because of PRLR expression in a vast majority of tumour specimens and its negative impact on overall survival, the receptor represents a novel prognosticator and a promising drug target for patients with SCCHNs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, Graz A-8036, Austria. thomas.bauernhofer@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bauernhofer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wieckowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stanson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aigelsreiter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Griesbacher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Groselj-Strele
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linecker
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samonigg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langner
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whiteside
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011388:Prolactin