Analysis of p16INK4A expression of oral squamous cell carcinomas in Taiwan: Prognostic correlation without relevance to betel quid consumption

作者：Chen Ya Wei; Kao Shou Yen; Yang Muh Hwa^*

来源：Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2012, 106(2): 149-154.

DOI：10.1002/jso.23067

• betel-quid
• oral squamous cell carcinoma
• p16INK4A
• prognosis

Objectives In this study, we examined the role of p16INK4A, a surrogate biomarker of HPV-related head and neck cancers with better prognosis, in an endemic area of betel quid (BQ)-related oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods p16INK4A immunohistochemistry was examined in 165 OSCCs, statistical analyses were performed to elucidate the correlation between p16INK4A expression and BQ habits/pathologic features, and the prognostic impact of p16INK4A and different parameters were analyzed. Results The incidence of p16INK4A expression was similar between BQ chewers and non-chewers. p16INK4A expression was significantly associated with nodal metastasis (P?=?0.005). There was a trend suggesting that the loss of p16INK4A expression was more frequent in higher T stages, however, this was found only in patients without lymph node metastasis (P?=?0.059). A poorer prognosis and a higher risk of tumor recurrence were found in OSCCs without p16INK4A expression. (The HR for cancer-specific mortality and cancer recurrence was 3.55 and 1.89, respectively.) Conclusion Although it has been suggested that BQ chewers had a greater tendency toward tumor recurrence and poor outcome, our data demonstrated that p16INK4A expression is unrelated to BQ habit and that p16INK4A downregulation is a strong predictor for OSCC progression, recurrence and survival in Taiwan. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:149154.

• 出版日期2012-8