title: Expression of ezrin in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Prognostic impact and clinicopathological correlations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been few investigations into the effects of ezrin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of ezrin expression on the prognosis of patients with OSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients were included in the retrospective study. Expression and localization of ezrin were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Associations were identified using χ² tests. Prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-six (95%) patients showed ezrin expression. Ezrin expression had a significant impact on overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001). With increasing expression, the 5-year OS rate dropped from 100% for ezrin-negative patients to 47% for patients with high expression. Multivariate analysis confirmed the significant influence of ezrin expression on OS (p = 0.011). Cytoplasmic localization of ezrin led to a significantly lower survival rate in comparison with membranous expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ezrin may serve as a biomarker that predicts biologically aggressive behavior of OSCC and hence improves therapeutic techniques and the prognosis of patients affected with the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali-Farid
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Safi
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nickenig
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rothamel
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zirk
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grandoch
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Johannes-Wesling Krankenhaus, Mühlenkreiskliniken Minden, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheer
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zinser
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zöller
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Drebber
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne-Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: mattheskreppel@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreppel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D000099149:Ezrin
keywords: Biomarker; ERM proteins; Ezrin; Oral cancer; Prognosis