Fibroblast growth factor 2 is of prognostic value for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with locally advanced SCCHN have a poor prognosis. This study investigated the prognostic value of the tumor cell expression of the fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) in patients treated with surgery followed by radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The impact of FGF-2-expression and 11 additional potential prognostic factors on loco-regional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) was retrospectively evaluated in 146 patients. Additional factors included age, gender, performance status, pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin levels, tumor site, histologic grade, T-category, N-category, human papilloma virus (HPV) status, extent of resection, and chemotherapy. Univariate analyses were performed with the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test, multivariate analyses with the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, improved LRC was significantly associated with FGF-2-negativity [risk ratio (RR): 7.33; 95%-confidence interval (CI): 2.88-19.05; p<0.001], lower T-category (RR: 2.42; 95%-CI: 1.47-4.33; p<0.001), lower N-category (RR: 12.36; 95%-CI: 3.48-78.91; p<0.001), and pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin levels ≥ 12 g/dl (RR: 4.18; 95%-CI: 1.73-10.53; p=0.002). No factor was significantly associated with improved MFS. Lower T-category showed a trend (RR: 1.59; 95%-CI: 0.97-2.82; p=0.069). Better OS was significantly associated with FGF-2-negativity (RR: 5.10; 2.22-11.80; p<0.001), lower T-category (RR: 2.17; 95%-CI: 1.38-3.68; p < 0.001), lower N-category (RR: 3.86; 95%-CI: 1.60-10.85; p=0.002), and pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin levels ≥ 12 g/dl (RR: 3.20; 95%-CI: 1.46-7.30; p=0.004). HPV-positivity showed a trend (RR: 2.36; 95%-CI: n.a.; p=0.054). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor cell expression of FGF-2 proved to be an independent prognostic factor for LRC and OS. This factor can help personalize treatment and stratify patients in future trials.

Androgen receptor expression: prognostic value in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the prognostic value of androgen receptor (AR) expression of tumor cells in patients treated with surgery and subsequent radio(chemo)therapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The impact of AR and 11 additional factors on locoregional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) was retrospectively studied in 163 patients with nonmetastatic stage III/IV SCCHN. Additional factors included age, gender, ECOG performance status, pre-radiotherapy (pre-RT) hemoglobin levels, tumor site, histologic grade, T category, N category, HPV status, extent of resection, and concurrent chemotherapy. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, improved LRC was significantly associated with pre-RT hemoglobin levels≥12 g/dl (risk ratio [RR] 2.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19­4.13; p=0.013), tumor site (RR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14­1.70; p=0.001), lower T category (RR 1.67; 95% CI 1.18­2.44; p=0.003), and lower N category (RR 4.18; 95% CI 1.90­10.55; p<0.001). Improved MFS was associated with AR expression (RR 2.21; 95% CI 1.01­5.41; p=0.048), better ECOG performance status (RR 3.19; 95% CI 1.50­7.14; p=0.003), lower T category (RR 2.24; 95% CI 1.47­3.65; p<0.001), and lower N category (RR 5.33; 95% CI 2.07­16.63; p<0.001). OS was positively associated with AR expression (RR 1.99; 95% CI 1.06­4.00; p=0.032), better ECOG performance status (RR 2.20; 95% CI 1.20­4.09; p=0.010), pre-RT hemoglobin levels≥12 g/dl (RR 2.13; 95% CI 1.19­3.82; p=0.012), lower T category (RR 1.81; 95% CI 1.30­2.62; p<0.001), and lower N category (RR 3.41; 95% CI: 1.65­7.80; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Tumor cell expression of AR was an independent prognostic factor for MFS and OS and should be considered in future prospective trials.

Impact of the HPV-positivity definition on the prognostic value of HPV status in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study re-evaluated the prognostic value of HPV status for loco-regional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS), and survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). A modified definition of HPV positivity was used in the current study compared to the authors' previous study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the previous study of the same 170 patients, a tumor was defined as HPV-positive if it showed a positive in situ hybridization result in ≥10% of tumor cells and/or positive p16 immunostaining. In the current analysis, tumors were considered HPV-positive only if they showed positive results for both in situ hybridization and p16 immunostaining. In addition to HPV status, the same 11 potential prognostic factors were investigated for treatment outcomes as in the preceding study. RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis of the current study, HPV positivity was significantly associated with improved LRC [risk ratio (RR) 9.78; p<0.001], MFS (RR 7.17; p=0.008), and OS (RR 6.61; p<0.001). In the previous study, HPV positivity was associated with LRC (RR 2.34; p=0.014) and OS (RR 2.19; p=0.019), but not with MFS (RR 2.04; p=0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Applying the new definition of HPV positivity, the impact of HPV status on the prognosis of patients irradiated for locally advanced SCCHN was more prominent than in our previous study and associated with all three investigated endpoints.

Prognostic impact of VEGF and FLT-1 receptor expression in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the prognostic value of tumor cell expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT-1) in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who had been treated with adjuvant radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The impact of tumor cell VEGF and FLT-1 expression plus 11 additional factors on loco-regional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS) was retrospectively evaluated in 157 patients. The additional factors were age, gender, performance status, pre-radiotherapy (pre-RT) hemoglobin levels, tumor site, histologic grade, T-category, N-category, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, extent of resection and chemotherapy. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, improved LRC was significantly associated with an absence of VEGF expression (risk ratio, RR: 5.02; p = 0.009), lower T-category (RR: 2.00; p < 0.001), lower N-category (RR: 3.75; p < 0.001) and pre-RT hemoglobin levels ≥ 12 g/dl (RR: 2.20; p = 0.029). Improved MFS was significantly associated with an absence of VEGF expression (RR: 7.46; p = 0.002), lower T-category (RR: 1.97; p = 0.002), lower N-category (RR: 3.29; p = 0.005) and a favorable tumor location (RR: 1.34; p = 0.033); HPV positivity showed a trend towards improved MFS (RR: 1.43; p = 0.09). Improved OS was significantly associated with an absence of VEFG expression (RR: 3.22; p = 0.041), pre-RT hemoglobin levels ≥ 12 g/dl (RR: 2.47; p = 0.009), lower T-category (RR: 1.92; p < 0.001) and lower N-category (RR: 3.39; p < 0.001). FLT-1 expression was significantly associated with LRC and OS in the univariate but not in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: VEGF expression proved to be an independent negative predictor for LRC, MFS and OS in patients treated for locally advanced SCCHN with adjuvant radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. FLT-1 expression was not significant in multivariate analyses.

Prognosis of patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Impact of tumor cell expression of EPO and EPO-R.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the prognostic role of tumor cell expression of erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor (EPO-R) in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) treated with surgery plus radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The impact of EPO, EPO-R, and 11 additional factors on locoregional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) was retrospectively evaluated in 144 patients. Additional factors were age, gender, performance status, preradiotherapy (pre-RT) hemoglobin levels, tumor site, histologic grade, T category, N category, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, extent of resection, and chemotherapy. Univariate analyses were performed with the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test, multivariate analyses with the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, improved LRC was significantly associated with no EPO expression (risk ratio [RR] 3.72; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.35-15.42; p = 0.008), lower T category (RR 1.60; 95 %CI 1.14-2.32; p = 0.005), and oropharynx or larynx cancer (RR 1.23; 95 %CI 1.02-1.49; p = 0.033). Improved MFS was significantly associated with no EPO expression (RR 5.45; 95 %CI 1.13-97.81; p = 0.031), lower T category (RR 1.66; 95 %CI 1.11-2.65; p = 0.013), lower N category (RR 2.44; 95 %CI 1.04-6.66; p = 0.039), HPV positivity (RR 3.14; 95 %CI not available; p = 0.034), and oropharynx or larynx cancer (RR 1.28; 95 %CI 1.01-1.61; p = 0.041). Improved OS was significantly associated with no EPO expression (RR 4.77; 95 %CI 1.63-20.68; p = 0.003), no EPO-R expression (RR 2.36; 95 %CI 1.22-4.92; p = 0.010), lower T category (RR 1.44; 95 %CI 1.04-2.04; p = 0.027), oropharynx or larynx cancer (RR 1.30; 95 %CI 1.08-1.57; p = 0.007), and pre-RT hemoglobin ≥ 12 g/dl (RR 1.94; 95 %CI 1.03-3.65; p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: EPO expression of tumor cells was an independent prognostic factor for LRC, MFS, and OS. EPO-R expression was an independent prognostic factor for OS.