| Author/Editor | Strojan, Primož; Aničin, Aleksandar; Svetic, Branka; Pohar, Maja; Šmid, Lojze; Kos, Janko | |
| Title | Stefin a and stefin B: markers for prognosis in operable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck | |
| Type | članek | |
| Source | Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys | |
| Vol. and No. | Letnik 68, št. 5 | |
| Publication year | 2007 | |
| Volume | str. 1335-41 | |
| Language | eng | |
| 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 patiens (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. | |
| Descriptors | HEAD AND NECK NEOPLASMS CARCINOMA, SMALL CELL CYSTEINE PROTEINASE INHIBITORS PROGNOSIS CYTOSOL ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY DISEASE-FREE SURVIVAL NEOPLASM STAGING |