title: Connexin 43 (Cx43) Expression in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Preliminary Data on Its Possible Prognostic Role.
abstract: The aim of the report is to evaluate the prognostic and predictive role of Connexin 43 (Cx43) expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas. Eighty-seven previously untreated patients submitted to laryngectomy ± neck dissection ± radiotherapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. The original primary tumor slides were reassessed, tumor grade and stage reviewed, and Cx43 immunohistochemical analysis performed: only cytoplasmic membranous staining of Cx43 has been shown. Neither significant correlation has been showed for clinical T (p = 0.75) and N (p = 0.81), while significant correlation has been found with grading (p < 0.0001) and pathological N (p < 0.0001). Five year overall survival (OS) of the 87 patients was 54 %; 5 year OS was 59.6 % in Cx43 positive patients and 37.1 % in Cx43 negative patients, but also this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.058). Our best findings were: poorly differentiated carcinomas had low or negative Cx43 expression; moderately differentiated tumors without node metastasis and no radiotherapy but with Cx43 expression had a better outcome; moderately differentiated tumors without node metastasis and no radiotherapy but without Cx43 expression had a worse outcome; moderately differentiated tumors with node metastasis and radiotherapy but without Cx43 expression had a better outcome. Interestingly, in G2 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas with lymph node metastasis at the time of diagnosis, Cx43 aberrant overexpression could identify a subset of patients with poor prognosis, far less responsive to radio/chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department "G.F.Ingrassia", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 87, 95125, Catania, Italy. lipuzzo@unict.it.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puzzo
authors.affiliation: Department "G.F.Ingrassia", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 87, 95125, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caltabiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 64, 95125, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - Section of Otolaryngology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Località Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trapasso
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - Section of Otolaryngology, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Località Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allegra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018031:Connexin 43; C500216:GJA1 protein, human
keywords: Cx43 expression; Grading; Prognostic value; Squamous cell carcinoma; Staging