title: FGFR4 profile as a prognostic marker in squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a member of a receptor tyrosine kinase family of enzymes involved in cell cycle control and proliferation. A common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Gly388Arg variant has been associated with increased tumor cell motility and progression of breast cancer, head and neck cancer and soft tissue sarcomas. The present study evaluated the prognostic significance of FGFR4 in oral and oropharynx carcinomas, finding an association of FGFR4 expression and Gly388Arg genotype with tumor onset and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA from peripheral blood of 122 patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas was used to determine FGFR4 genotype by PCR-RFLP. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on paraffin-embedded tissue microarrays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Presence of allele Arg388 was associated with lymphatic embolization and with disease related premature death. In addition, FGFR4 low expression was related with lymph node positivity and premature relapse of disease, as well as disease related death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results propose FGFR4 profile, measured by the Gly388Arg genotype and expression, as a novel marker of prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo,São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Lelis
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.forename: Marcos Brasilino
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Ana Maria da Cunha
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mercante
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gazito
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Cicco
authors.forename: Gencapo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Group
authors.forename: Eloiza Helena
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Tajara
authors.forename: Iúri Drumond
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Louro
authors.forename: Adriana Madeira Álvares
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011379:Prognosis; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C496371:FGFR4 protein, human; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4