Association between high collagenase-3 expression levels and poor prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is a common cancer type. The ability for curative treatment with surgery and radiotherapy (RT) is usually highly dependent on tumor stage at the time of diagnosis.

METHODS:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression of a cancer-specific proteinase, collagenase-3 (matrix metalloproteinase-13 [MMP-13]), is associated with survival parameters in patients with HNSCC. We studied MMP-13 expression in tumors of 81 patients with stage I-IV HNSCC treated with surgery alone or in combination with radiotherapy.

RESULTS:

We found a subgroup of patients with high MMP-13 expression level in their tumors (>/=90% MMP-13-positive tumor cells) associated with unfavorable prognosis (median overall survival [OS], 11.8 vs 19.6 months, p = .032). In addition, the median disease-specific survival (DSS) time was markedly reduced in this subgroup (13.8 months vs 40.7 months, p = .062). When the subgroup of patients treated with a curative intent was studied, the same association was found in OS (13.8 vs 24.6 months, p = .023) and DSS (p = .004). In addition, there was a trend for association between >/=90% MMP-13 positivity and a recurrent tumor (p = .078) in curatively treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

The short survival time associated with high MMP-13 expression levels could not be predicted by tumor size or local lymph node invasion. These results show that a high MMP-13 expression level is associated with aggressiveness of HNSCC and may have prognostic value in patient evaluation.

• Authors: Marjaana Luukkaa, Pia Vihinen, Pauliina Kronqvist, Tero Vahlberg, Seppo Pyrhönen, Veli-Matti Kähäri, Reidar Grénman
• Journal: Head & neck (Head Neck) Vol. 28 Issue 3 Pg. 225-34 (Mar 2006) ISSN: 1043-3074 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16302191 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Collagenases
• MMP13 protein, human
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 13

Topics

• Aged
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (enzymology, mortality, therapy)
• Collagenases (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 13
• Mouth Neoplasms (enzymology, mortality, therapy)
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (enzymology)
• Pharyngeal Neoplasms (enzymology, mortality, therapy)
• Prognosis
• Radiotherapy, Adjuvant