title: Prognostic value of osteopontin in patients treated with primary radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prognostic value of tumor osteopontin (OPN) in patients with squamous-cell head and neck cancer (SCHNC) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  OPN expression was assessed by immunohistochemical methods in 50 patients, who were treated with primary radiotherapy (RT) for locally advanced SCHNC. The effects of OPN on clinical parameters, local-regional control after RT and metastasis-free survival, was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of OPN expression in tumor tissue was 76%. OPN positive cases had lower Hb levels (p=0.088). Mean time to local recurrence was 53.8 months (SE 3.9) in OPN-negative cases and 39.1 months (SE 4.7) in OPN-positive cases (p=0.047). OPN increased the risk of local recurrence 5.9 times (p=0.085). It had no effect on metastasis-free (p=0.116) or overall survival (p=0.123). OPN was positive in 12 of 19 cases that developed grade 3-4 acute radiation dermatitis (p=0.096).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OPN expression is associated with an increase in local recurrence in patients who were treated with primary RT for locally advanced SCHNC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey E-mail : detiz@ogu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Durmus
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Etiz
authors.forename: Fulya Colak
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Ataizi
authors.forename: Evrim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bayman
authors.forename: Melek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akcay
authors.forename: Mustafa Fuat
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Acikalin
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Evrim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ciftci
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism*; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006454:Hemoglobins; D053495:Osteopontin