p27 and BCL2 expression predicts response to chemotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are characterized by marked heterogeneity in their biological behavior and response to treatment. Our goal was the identification of biomarkers that can be used to predict response to chemotherapy in these patients.


METHODS
The expression of EGFR, p53, Cyclin D1, p16, p21, p27, p-AKT, HIF-1α, Caspase 3 and BCL2 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 41 primary laryngeal/hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas of patients that received induction chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) as part of their treatment.


RESULTS
Positive expression of p27 and BCL2 had a significant predictive value for chemotherapy response in univariate analysis. The combination of both proteins was not superior in predicting the response to chemotherapy. Furthermore, p27 expression was the only significant predictor of chemotherapy response in multivariate analysis (P=0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
p27 Expression may serve as predictive biomarker of response to induction chemotherapy in HNSCC patients.
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, University of Oviedo, Instituto Universitario de Oncología, Oviedo, Spain.
Carla
C
Moreno-Galindo
Department of Otolaryngology, Instituto Universitario de Oncología, Oviedo, Spain.
Mario
M
Hermsen
Department of Otolaryngology, Instituto Universitario de Oncología, Oviedo, Spain.
Juana M
JM
García-Pedrero
Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, University of Oviedo, Instituto Universitario de Oncología, Oviedo, Spain.
Manuel F
MF
Fresno
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, University of Oviedo, Instituto Universitario de Oncología, Oviedo, Spain.
Carlos
C
Suárez
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, University of Oviedo, Instituto Universitario de Oncología, Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: juanpablo.rodrigo@sespa.princast.es.
Juan P
JP
Rodrigo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; C000614131:CDKN2A protein, human; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C413374:p27 antigen; D019938:Cyclin D1; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D053148:Caspase 3; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil
5-Fluorouracil; Biomarkers; Chemotherapy response; Cisplatin; Head and neck cancer; Immunohistochemistry; Outcome; Squamous cell carcinoma