Candidate Biomarkers for HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancer Identified via Gene Expression Barcode Analysis.
(1) Reanalyze publicly available genomic data for HPV-negative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma to look for candidate biomarkers. (2) Evaluate the association of the identified biomarkers with survival.



Retrospective cohort study.



Tertiary care.



Gene expression barcode analysis was applied to an existing publicly available data set of 54 HPV-negative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma tumor samples to identify candidate genes associated with poor prognosis. Genes identified were evaluated for their association with survival on the basis of univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models.



Three genes were found to be associated with poor prognosis. The most significant association was seen with spectrin expression. Subjects whose tumors expressed spectrin were 4.60 times more likely (hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval: 1.88-11.25) to die at any given time when compared with those without spectrin (P = .001). On univariable analysis, subjects with late-stage cancer were 6.34 times more likely (hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval: 1.41-28.53; P = .02) to die at any given time, but interestingly, after controlling for spectrin, this effect was attenuated (P = .07). Despite controlling for several possible confounding effects, the effect of spectrin remained hazardous throughout all multivariable models. This was true even after controlling for cancer stage and extracapsular extension (P = .004).



Our analysis of public genomic data shows promise in identifying biomarkers that may allow clinicians to make more accurate survival predictions. Spectrin is a strong candidate for further biomarker testing.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
Shiayin F
SF
Yang
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
Carol M
CM
Bier-Laning
Division of Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
William
W
Adams
Department of Public Health Sciences, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA mizilliox@luc.edu.
Michael J
MJ
Zilliox
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D023281:Genomics; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013049:Spectrin / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C486317:CAND1 protein, human; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; C452439:SPTBN1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013049:Spectrin
HPV negative; biomarkers; gene expression barcode; head and neck cancer; microarray