Chen SW, Zhang Q, Yang AK, Li Z, Zhong Y, Li H, Zeng Y, Zhuang SM, Wang LP, Song LB, Guo ZM, Song M. Overexpression and cytoplasmic localization of Sam68 correlate with tumor progression and poor prognosis in patients with clinically N0 oral tongue cancer. Head Neck Oncol. 2012 Sep 9;4(2):61.

In this study, we report Sam68 overexpression in human clinically N0 (cN0) oral tongue cancer and its correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of patients. Analysis of oral tongue cancer cell lines and cancerous tissues revealed that Sam68 was up-regulated at both the mRNA and protein levels. Immunohistochemical study of Sam68 protein expression and localization in 181 cN0 oral tongue cancer samples confirmed the results, which showed significantly shorter overall and disease-free survival after surgery in cases with higher Sam68 expression (P = 0.009 and 0.002, respectively) and cytoplasmic localization of Sam68 (P < 0.001 and = 0.007, respectively). Sam68 overexpression significantly correlated with pathologic stage (P = 0.001), T classification (P = 0.001), N classification (P = 0.026), nodal status (P = 0.021), and recurrence (P = 0.002), and cytoplasmic localization of Sam68 was significantly associated with pathologic stage (P = 0.004), N classification (P = 0.002), nodal status (P = 0.001), and recurrence (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis indicated that Sam68 overexpression and cytoplasmic localization were independent predictors for poor survival of cN0 oral tongue cancer patients. Our results indicate that Sam68 could represent a novel and useful prognostic factor for cN0 oral tongue cancer. Overexpression and cytoplasmic localization of Sam68 expression portends a poor prognosis in cN0 oral tongue cancer patients.
Source: Head and Neck Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research