Prognostic value of ERCC1 in head and neck carcinoma treated with definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2013 Feb;139(2):187-94. doi: 10.1007/s00432-012-1318-8. Epub 2012 Sep 26.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic significance of excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) expression in head and neck carcinoma patients treated with definitive radiotherapy (DR) or adjuvant radiotherapy (AR).

Methods: ERCC1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemical staining. A total of 48 patients were assessed.

Results: High ERCC1 expression was found in 23 patients (48 %). More ERCC1-positive tumours were detected in patients treated with DR than in patients treated with AR (73 vs. 36 %, respectively, p = 0.03). ERCC1 expression had no impact on overall survival neither in the whole cohort of patients (p = 0.16) nor in each particular treatment group (AR p = 0.98; DR p = 0.21).

Conclusions: ERCC1 expression had no predictive value in head and neck carcinoma patients treated with DR or AR. There might be difference in ERCC1 positivity that comes out of whether the assessment is done on biopsy or surgical specimens.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Endonucleases / genetics
  • Endonucleases / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / mortality
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • ERCC1 protein, human
  • Endonucleases