title: The expression of activin receptor-like kinase 1 among patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the expression and clinical significance of activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ACVRL1) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic Institute of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with HNSCC (n = 169) underwent surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for aggressive tumors between November 2000 and March 2004. ACVRL1 expression was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High levels of ACVRL1 expression were significantly correlated with advanced T classification (P < .001), positive N classification (P = .002), advanced TNM stage (P < .001), lymphovascular invasion (P < .001), and extracapsular spread of lymph node metastasis (P = .021). A poor 5-year overall survival rate was correlated with high ACVRL1 expression (P = .0048), advanced T classification (P = .0075), positive N classification (P = .0024), advanced TNM stage (P = .0077), and extracapsular spread of lymph node (P = .0002), but a multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model revealed that the only independent prognostic factors for survival were ACVRL1 expression (P = .043; odds ratio [OR], 1.635; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.017-2.629) and extracapsular spread of lymph node metastasis (P = .003; OR, 2.052; 95% CI, 1.270-3.315).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high level of ACVRL1 expression in tumor tissue is significantly correlated with advanced T classification, positive N classification, advanced TNM stage, and poorer prognosis.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. cychien3965@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors: Chih-Yen
authors: CY
authors: Chien
authors: Hui-Ching
authors: HC
authors: Chuang
authors: Chang-Han
authors: CH
authors: Chen
authors: Fu-Min
authors: FM
authors: Fang
authors: Wei-Chih
authors: WC
authors: Chen
authors: Chao-Cheng
authors: CC
authors: Huang
authors: Hsuan-Ying
authors: HY
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C425364:ACVRL1 protein, human; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II
keywords: activin receptor–like kinase 1; extracapsular spread of lymph node; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; lymph node metastasis; neck metastasis