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High expression of nuclear survivin and Aurora B predicts poor overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer

Hohe Expression von nukleärem Survivin und Aurora-B als prädiktive Marker für das schlechte Gesamtüberleben bei Patienten mit Plattenepithelkarzinomen der Kopf- und Halsregion

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Abstract

Background and purpose

Survivin is one of the apoptosis inhibitor proteins. Together with Aurora B, it also plays a role in regulating several aspects of mitosis. High expression of these markers is correlated with malignant behavior of various cancers and resistance to therapy. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic role of these markers in head and neck cancers.

Patients and methods

We evaluated the expression of Aurora B and survivin in tissue specimens of 58 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using immunohistochemistry.

Results

Patients who showed high expression of cytoplasmic and nuclear survivin and Aurora B had significantly shorter overall survival (p = 0.036, p < 0.000, p = 0.032, respectively). In multivariate analysis, high expression of nuclear survivin was the only independent negative prognostic factor (p = 0.024). Moreover, it was found that high co-expression of nuclear survivin and Aurora B had a negative effect on survival in univariate (p < 0.000) and multivariate (p < 0.000) analyses.

Conclusion

The negative prognostic values of high expression of Aurora B and high co-expression of nuclear survivin and Aurora B on survival were shown. These findings suggest that co-expression of nuclear survivin and Aurora B can be useful diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, further studies with a larger number of patients in a more homogeneous disease group are needed to confirm the conclusion.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund und Ziel

Survivin ist eines der Apoptoseinhibitorproteine. Zusammen mit Aurorakinase-B ist es an der Regulation vielfältiger Aspekte der Mitose beteiligt. Die hohe Expression dieser Marker korreliert mit dem malignen Verhalten vieler Krebsarten und deren Therapieresistenz. Ziel der Untersuchung war es, die prädiktive Wertigkeit dieser Marker bei Tumoren der Kopf- und Halsregion zu evaluieren.

Patienten und Methoden

Mit Hilfe der Immunhistologie wurde in Gewebeproben von 58 Patienten mit Plattenepithelkarzinomen der Kopf- und Halsregion die Expression von Aurora-B und Survivin geprüft.

Ergebnisse

Hohe Survivin- und Aurora-B-Expression in Zytoplasma und Nukleus waren mit einer signifikant verkürzten allgemeinen Überlebensrate assoziiert (p = 0,036; p < 0,000; p = 0,032). Bei der multivariaten Analyse erwies sich eine hohe nukleäre Survivin-Expression als einziger unabhängiger negativer prognostischer Faktor (p = 0,024). Zudem wirkte sich eine hohe Co-Expression von nukleärem Survivin und Aurora-B bei univariater (p < 0,000) und bei multivariater (p < 0,000) Analyse negativ aus.

Schlussfolgerung

Es ließen sich prognostisch negative Auswirkungen auf das Überleben bei hoher Co-Expression von nukleären Survivin und Aurora-B sowie bei hoher Expression von Aurora-B zeigen. Diese Ergebnisse spechen für Relevanz der Co-Expression von nukleärem Survivin und Aurora-B bei Plattenepithelkarzinomen im Kopf- und Halsbereich als diagnostische Marker und als therapeutische Targets. Zur Bestätigung sind jedoch weitere Untersuchungen an einer größeren Anzahl gleichartig behandelter Patienten notwendig.

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Conflict of interest

The corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical School of Gazi University, Mevlana, 06500, Besevler-Ankara, Turkey

    O.P. Erpolat & M. Akmansu

  2. Department of Pathology, Medical School of Gazi University, Besevler-Ankara, Turkey

    P.U. Gocun, E. Karakus & G. Akyol

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  1. O.P. Erpolat
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  2. P.U. Gocun
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  3. M. Akmansu
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  4. E. Karakus
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Correspondence to O.P. Erpolat.

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Consent from the head of the institute and ethical approval were obtained.

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Erpolat, O., Gocun, P., Akmansu, M. et al. High expression of nuclear survivin and Aurora B predicts poor overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer. Strahlenther Onkol 188, 248–254 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-011-0042-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-011-0042-7

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