title: PITX2 and PANCR DNA methylation predicts overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region (HNSCC) is a common malignant disease accompanied by a high risk of local or distant recurrence after curative-intent treatment. Biomarkers that allow for the prediction of disease outcome can guide clinicians with respect to treatment and surveillance strategies. Here, the methylation status of PITX2 and an adjacent lncRNA (PANCR) were evaluated for their ability to predict overall survival in HNSCC patients.
  
  
  
  PITX2 hypermethylation was associated with a better overall survival (hazard ratio, HR = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.35-0.74, p<0.001), while PANCR hypermethylation was significantly associated with an increased risk of death (HR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.12-2.39, p=0.010).
  
  
  
  Quantitative, methylation-specific real-time PCR assays for PITX2 and PANCR were employed to measure bisulfite-converted DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues in a cohort of 399 patients with localized or locally advanced HNSCC who received curative-intent treatment (surgery with optional adjuvant radiochemotherapy or definite radiochemotherapy).
  
  
  
  PITX2 and PANCR methylation status were shown to be independent predictors for overall survival in HNSCC patients. Tissue-based methylation testing could therefore potentially be employed to identify patients with a high risk for death who might benefit from a more radical or alternative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, New York, NY, USA.|Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sailer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Emily Eva
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gevensleben
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goltz
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dröge
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Bonn, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Vos
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Bonn, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzen
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Disorders and Addiction Medicine, LVR Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schröck
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Bonn, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bootz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Bonn, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schröck
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.|University Hospital Bonn, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Dimo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dietrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2
keywords: DNA methylation; PANCR; PITX2; biomarker; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma