The expression of activin receptor-like kinase 1 among patients with head and neck cancer

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Jun;148(6):965-73. doi: 10.1177/0194599813479556. Epub 2013 Feb 27.

Abstract

Objectives: We investigated the expression and clinical significance of activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ACVRL1) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Study design: Case series with chart review.

Setting: Academic Institute of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Subjects and methods: Patients diagnosed with HNSCC (n = 169) underwent surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for aggressive tumors between November 2000 and March 2004. ACVRL1 expression was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry approaches.

Results: High levels of ACVRL1 expression were significantly correlated with advanced T classification (P < .001), positive N classification (P = .002), advanced TNM stage (P < .001), lymphovascular invasion (P < .001), and extracapsular spread of lymph node metastasis (P = .021). A poor 5-year overall survival rate was correlated with high ACVRL1 expression (P = .0048), advanced T classification (P = .0075), positive N classification (P = .0024), advanced TNM stage (P = .0077), and extracapsular spread of lymph node (P = .0002), but a multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model revealed that the only independent prognostic factors for survival were ACVRL1 expression (P = .043; odds ratio [OR], 1.635; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.017-2.629) and extracapsular spread of lymph node metastasis (P = .003; OR, 2.052; 95% CI, 1.270-3.315).

Conclusion: A high level of ACVRL1 expression in tumor tissue is significantly correlated with advanced T classification, positive N classification, advanced TNM stage, and poorer prognosis.

Keywords: activin receptor–like kinase 1; extracapsular spread of lymph node; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; lymph node metastasis; neck metastasis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activin Receptors, Type II / genetics*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Cohort Studies
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lymph Node Excision / methods
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • ACVRL1 protein, human
  • Activin Receptors, Type II