title: Bcl-xL protein: predictor of complete tumor response in patients with oral cancer treated with curative radiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We earlier observed altered expression of p53 and Bcl-xL in oral cancer cell lines/tissues and wanted to evaluate these proteins for prediction of radiotherapy response and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine paraffin-embedded, pretreatment oral cancer biopsies were analyzed for protein expression using immunohistochemistry and correlated with tumor response to radiotherapy and disease-free survival (DFS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  High p53 (p = .040) was observed in female versus male patients. Increased p53 intensity (p = .063) was observed in tobacco habitués (chewers ± smokers) versus patients with no habits. In univariate analysis, nodal positivity (p = .044) and favorable/complete tumor response (p = .002) exhibited a significant correlation with DFS, whereas tumor response emerged as an independent predictor of DFS in multivariate analysis. Significantly high Bcl-xL (p = .048) was observed in the unfavorable versus favorable responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that Bcl-xL expression along with clinical parameters may be useful for identifying patients with oral cancer likely to draw maximum benefit from curative radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Teni Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai-410210, India.
authors.forename: Sanchita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallick
authors.forename: Jaiprakash
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Sadhana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.forename: Sagar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pawar
authors.forename: Shubhada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Tanuja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007194:India; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051020:bcl-X Protein