| Abstract | The onset of chemo- and/or radio-resistance in tumour cells is one of the main causes of failure of integrated treatment protocols combining intra-arterial administration of platinum derivatives and radiotherapy, and is associated with recurrent disease and/or distant metastases. In the present study, the expression of a series of markers of chemo- and/or radio-resistance was investigated in 21 patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with combined intra-arterial carboplatin and radiotherapy. The results were correlated with local response to treatment, recurrence and overall and disease-free survival. In non-responders or in patients presenting recurrence, caspase 8 was significantly (p 0.05) under-expressed while p-Gp (p 0.035) and MDR-3 (p 0.049) were significantly over-expressed. Tumours with unfavourable outcome more frequently over-expressed two or more anti-apoptotic factors (p-53, BCL-2, BCL-x) (p 0.01). Patients with shorter overall survival, significantly overexpressed p53 (p 0.04), LRP (p 0.038) and a larger number of trans-membrane transport proteins compared with those who survived more than one year (p 0.013). Finally, patients with the shortest disease-free survival presented over-expression of p53 (p 0.027) and BCL-x (p 0.023). Further studies are necessary to confirm the possibility, in a future perspective, of using a panel of markers of chemo- and radio-resistance to identify those patients potentially sensitive to the treatment and to avoid patients at high risk of resistance from being submitted to ineffective and toxic treatment protocols. |
| Authors | L Mannarini, G Bertino, P Morbini, C Villa, M Benazzo
(Affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology HN Surgery, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy.)
|
| Journal | Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale
(Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital)
Vol. 27
Issue 4
Pg. 173-80
(Aug 2007)
ISSN: 0392-100X Italy |
| PMID | 17957847
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
| Chemical References |
- Antineoplastic Agents
- bcl-X Protein
- Carboplatin
|
| Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Antineoplastic Agents
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Carboplatin
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
(drug therapy, genetics, radiotherapy)
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Drug Resistance
- Female
- Genes, bcl-2
(genetics)
- Genes, p53
(genetics)
- Head and Neck Neoplasms
(drug therapy, genetics, radiotherapy)
- Humans
- Infusions, Intra-Arterial
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Neoplasm Staging
- bcl-X Protein
(genetics)
|
