Overexpression of FGFR3 in HPV-positive Tonsillar and Base of Tongue Cancer Is Correlated to Outcome

Anticancer Res. 2018 Aug;38(8):4683-4690. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.12774.

Abstract

Background/aim: Human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) tonsillar and base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC/BOTSCC) have better outcome than corresponding HPV- cancers. To better individualize treatment, additional predictive markers are needed. Previously, we have shown that mutated fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 protein (FGFR3) was correlated to poorer prognosis and here FGFR3 expression was further analyzed.

Patients and methods: One-hundred-fifteen HPV+TSCC/ BOTSCC biopsies were analyzed for FGFR3 by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and 109/115 were analyzed for FGFR3 mutations by Ion Proton sequencing, or by Competitive Allele-Specific Taqman PCR (CAST-PCR). Disease-free survival (DFS) was then calculated according to FGFR3 IHC expression.

Results: CAST-PCR was useful for detecting the three most common FGFR3 mutations. Focusing especially on the 98/115 patients with HPV+TSCC/BOTSCC and wild-type FGFR3, high FGFR3 expression correlated to significantly better 3-year DFS, p=0.043.

Conclusion: In patients with HPV+TSCC/BOTSCC and wild-type FGFR3, overexpression of FGFR3 was correlated with better DFS.

Keywords: FGFR3; FGFR3 immunohistochemistry; HPV; base of tongue cancer; oropharyngeal cancer; survival; tonsillar cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / virology
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / genetics
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Papillomaviridae / pathogenicity
  • Papillomavirus Infections / genetics*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 / genetics*
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
  • Tongue Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Tongue Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Tongue Neoplasms / virology
  • Tonsillar Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Tonsillar Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Tonsillar Neoplasms / virology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • FGFR3 protein, human
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3