title: Comparing ERCC1 protein expression, mRNA levels, and genotype in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck treated with concurrent chemoradiation stratified by HPV status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies examining excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) have not compared methods of ERCC1 testing nor been stratified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status.
  
  
  METHODS
  ERCC1 protein expression, mRNA, and genotype were retrospectively evaluated from pretreatment biopsies in 55 patients with SCCHN treated with chemoradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 50% of patients had high ERCC1 protein expression, 28.2% had low mRNA levels, and genotype frequencies were C/C = 17.1%, C/T = 43.9%, and T/T = 39.0%. No correlations were found among protein expression, mRNA, or genotype. With a median follow-up of 54 months, the 5-year overall survival was 57.7%. After adjusting for known prognostic factors, ERCC1 protein level and genotype resulted in hazard ratios indicating an increased risk of death of 4.4-fold (p = .004) and 4.2-fold (p = .044), respectively. An exploratory analysis suggested a differential prognostic effect in HPV-negative SCCHN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ERCC1 protein expression using the FL297 antibody warrants further study as a potential prognostic marker in SCCHN.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre and University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Desiree.Hao@albertahealthservices.ab.ca
authors: Desirée
authors: D
authors: Hao
authors: Harold Y
authors: HY
authors: Lau
authors: Misha
authors: M
authors: Eliasziw
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Box
authors: Román
authors: R
authors: Diaz
authors: Alexander C
authors: AC
authors: Klimowicz
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Shin
authors: Susan P
authors: SP
authors: Lees-Miller
authors: Anthony M
authors: AM
authors: Magliocco
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C071447:ERCC1 protein, human; D004720:Endonucleases