Cortactin expression predicts poor survival in laryngeal carcinoma

Amplification of the 11q13 region is one of the most frequent aberrations in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region (HNSCC). Amplification of 11q13 has been shown to correlate with the presence of lymph node metastases and decreased survival. The 11q13.3 amplicon carries numerous genes including cyclin D1 and cortactin. Recently, we reported that FADD becomes overexpressed upon amplification and that FADD protein expression predicts for lymph node positivity and disease-specific mortality. However, the gene within the 11q13.3 amplicon responsible for this correlation is yet to be identified. In this paper, we compared, using immunohistochemical analysis for cyclin D1, FADD and cortactin in a series of 106 laryngeal carcinomas which gene correlates best with lymph node metastases and increased disease-specific mortality. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that high expression of cyclin D1 (P=0.016), FADD (P=0.003) and cortactin (P=0.0006) predict for increased risk to disease-specific mortality. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that only high cortactin expression correlates with disease-specific mortality independent of cyclin D1 and/or FADD. Of genes located in the 11q13 amplicon, cortactin expression is the best predictor for shorter disease-specific survival in late stage laryngeal carcinomas

Fatores prognósticos no carcinoma espinocelular de cavidade oral Prognostic factors in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

Devido à incerteza da evolução do câncer oral é que os pesquisadores procuram fatores que possam influenciar no prognóstico. OBJETIVO: Avaliar em pacientes com carcinoma espinocelular de cavidade oral variáveis que possam influenciar no tempo de sobrevida. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Analisados dados de 45 pacientes no período de Janeiro de 2001 a Janeiro de 2006. As curvas de sobrevida foram estimadas pelo método de Kaplan-Meier e para compará-las os testes de log-rank e o modelo de regressão de Cox. Desenho do Estudo: Análise retrospectiva. RESULTADOS: A sobrevida global foi de 39% em 5 anos. Apenas as variáveis, metástase cervical (p=0,017), radioterapia pós-operatória (p=0,056) e margens comprometidas (p=0,004) tiveram significância estatística. A sobrevida foi menor em pacientes: com metástase cervical; com margens comprometidas e os submetidos à radioterapia pós-operatória, ou seja, nos tumores mais agressivos. Após ajustamento, a radioterapia não mostrou significância estatística. Provavelmente a sobrevida de 39% seja pelo elevado número de pacientes com metástase (52,2%) e pelo fato da amostra ser basicamente de cânceres de língua e assoalho (82%), os de controle mais difícil. CONCLUSÃO: A metástase cervical e o comprometimento das margens cirúrgicas são os fatores prognósticos no carcinoma de cavidade oral que influenciaram na sobrevida.<br>Researchers have been looking for factors that can influence the prognosis of oral cancer, because its outcome is highly uncertain. AIM: To evaluate variables that can impact the survival rate of patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data analysis of 45 patients from January, 2001 to January, 2006. Survival rate curves have been estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and they have been compared through the log-rank test and the Cox regression standard. Study design: Retrospective analysis. RESULTS: Total five-year survival rate was of 39% fpr these patients. Only the neck metastases (p=0.017), postoperative radiotherapy (p=0.056) and diseased margin(p=0.004) variables had statistic relevance. Survival rate was lower in patients with neck metastases, margins involved and those who underwent postoperative radiotherapy, in other words, those with the most aggressive tumors. After adjustment, radiotherapy did not prove to be statistically relevant. It is likely that the survival rate of 39% was due to the high number of patients with metastasis (52%) and because the samples were mostly of tongue and mouth floor diseases (82%), which are the hardest to control. CONCLUSION: Neck metastases and diseased margins of oral cavity carcinomas are the prognostic factors that can most impact the survival rate