Her3 Expression and Survival in Head and Neck Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Takikita Mikiko, Xie Ran, Chung Joon-Yong, Cho Hanbyoul, Ylaya Kris, Hong Seung-Mo, Moskaluk Christopher A, Hewitt Stephen M
Primary Institution: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
Hypothesis
Is Her3 expression associated with survival outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)?
Conclusion
Membranous Her3 expression is strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC.
Supporting Evidence
- High membranous Her3 expression was found in 34 (8.8%) of primary tumor samples.
- Patients with positive membranous Her3 expression had a median survival of 22 months.
- Membranous Her3 expression was significantly associated with worse overall survival (P = 0.027).
- Membranous Her3 over-expression was significantly prevalent in metastatic tissues compared to primary tumors (P = 0.003).
Takeaway
This study found that if a protein called Her3 is found on the surface of cancer cells in the head and neck, it might mean the patient will not live as long.
Methodology
The study analyzed 424 tumor samples using tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry to assess Her2 and Her3 expression.
Limitations
Information on tumor staging was not available for this study group.
Participant Demographics
The study included 424 patients, with a mean age of 61 years, predominantly male (75.5%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.027
Confidence Interval
1.01-2.23
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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