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Molecular signatures associated with clinical outcome in patients with high-risk head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by surgery and radiation

Journal Article · · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1]
  1. Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX (United States)
  2. Department of Biostatistics and Applied Mathematics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX (United States)
  3. Department of Pathology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX (United States)
  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX (United States)

Purpose: The local-regional control rate for advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains poor and is unpredictable for a given individual. This study examined whether gene expression patterns developed from tumors from surgicopathologic, criteria-defined, high-risk HNSCC patients could be correlated with clinical outcomes, namely, metastasis or nonrecurrent disease. Methods and Materials: Fifteen primary tumors from patients treated with a consistent protocol of surgery followed by radiotherapy were examined. Seven of these tumors were from high-risk patients who developed distant metastasis (DM), and eight tumors were from patients with no recurrence (NR) (median follow-up, 59 months). Results: Unsupervised clustering of gene expression did not separate the two groups from one another, but when supervised methodologies were applied, 205 genes discriminated the two groups. Within the DM group, genes associated with cell growth and proliferation; DNA replication, recombination, and repair; antiapoptotic pathways; cell adhesion; and angiogenesis were identified. For NR samples, discriminatory genes were associated with the onset of apoptosis. Conclusions: Our data suggest that gene expression analysis of surgically excised HNSCC tumors from patients considered at high risk for recurrence has the potential to identify individuals susceptible to metastasis on the basis of distinct gene-expression patterns. These patients would be ideal candidates for testing systemic therapy.

OSTI ID:
20793330
Journal Information:
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 64; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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