title: Loss of the putative tumor suppressor protein spinophilin is associated with poor prognosis in head and neck cancer.
abstract: The putative tumor suppressor protein spinophilin has been recently involved in the pathogenesis of lung, liver, and other types of cancer. Previous studies also indicate that a loss of spinophilin in combination with functional impairment of p53 drives tumor progression. To date, no data exist about the role of spinophilin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In the present study, we evaluated spinophilin and p53 expression by immunohistochemistry in 85 patients with nonmetastatic HNSCC. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox proportional models were used to define the prognostic relevance of spinophilin for patients with HNSCC. Overall, immunoreactivity for spinophilin was reduced in 40 tumors (47%). Nine cases (10.5%) showed complete loss of spinophilin. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis demonstrated that reduced spinophilin expression is associated with poor overall survival (P = .022). Concomitant analysis of spinophilin and p53 further showed that patients with reduced spinophilin expression and nuclear p53 staining have a significantly decreased overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-3.61; P = .030). In conclusion, the combination of reduced spinophilin expression and nuclear p53 staining indicates a poor prognosis in HNSCC patients. Based on our results, spinophilin might play a previously unrecognized role in the pathogenesis of HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria. Electronic address: martin.pichler@medunigraz.at.
authors.forename: Alena Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aigelsreiter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aigelsreiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wehrschuetz
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Anna Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ress
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.affiliation: Department of General Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salzwimmer
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schauer
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bauernhofer
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pichler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000099273:Neurabins
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000099273:Neurabins
keywords: Head and neck cancer; Novel tumor suppressor protein; Prognosis