Stefin a and stefin B: markers for prognosis in operable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis about the protective role of high stefin A and stefin B concentrations in operable carcinoma of the head and neck.

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

Stefins A and B concentrations were measured in tissue cytosols of nontumorous mucosa and primary tumors from 92 patients. For quantitative analysis of stefins in tumor cytosols, commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used.

RESULTS:

Stefin A was upregulated in 53 patients (higher concentrations were measured in tumor samples than in nontumorous mucosa) and was downregulated in 39 patients. The corresponding numbers for stefin B were 49 and 43, respectively. A significantly higher proportion of downregulated cases were found among patients with disease re-appearance. In the Cox model, high stefin A concentrations appeared as independent predictors for favorable disease-free survival. Assuming a "broken stick" model, a significant increase in the recurrence rate after the threshold of 1063 ng/mgp (the 64th percentile in the group) was found, the hazard ratio reaching 3% of the reference value with doubling of the level of stefin A. These results were reconfirmed after pooling the data with two historical data sets into a uniform series involving 182 patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

A group of patients at high risk for disease progression was identified, characterized by the downregulated stefin A protein in the tumor compared with the nontumorous mucosa. Stefin A was recognized as a promising candidate marker for prognosis in patients with operable carcinoma of the head and neck.

• Authors: Primoz Strojan, Aleksandar Anicin, Branka Svetic, Maja Pohar, Lojze Smid, Janko Kos
• Journal: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys) Vol. 68 Issue 5 Pg. 1335-41 (Aug 01 2007) ISSN: 0360-3016 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17418975 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• CSTB protein, human
• Cystatin A
• Cystatins
• Neoplasm Proteins
• CSTA protein, human
• Cystatin B

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (blood, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Cystatin A
• Cystatin B
• Cystatins (blood)
• Female
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (blood, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Proteins (blood)
• Prognosis
• Prospective Studies
• Statistics, Nonparametric