Correlation of expression of Ki-67, EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-9, p53, bcl-2, CD34 and cell cycle analysis with survival in head and neck squamous cell cancer.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of flow cytometric analysis of DNA, mitotic, apoptotic indices, Ki-67, EGF-R, c-erb-B2, matrix metalloproteinasis-9 (MMP 9), p53, bcl-2, CD 34 in Head and Neck Carcinomas (HNSCC). The analysis was carried out with a set of 217 patients suffering from HNSCC. The parameters of tumors were related to the overall survival (OS) and the event-free survival (EFS). Clinical stage, ploidy and T-N categories influence both survival measures equally and significantly. Grade score did not significantly contribute to the prediction of EFS and OS when entered to the analysis as single factor. Measure of realized proliferation significantly contributed to the risk prediction both in EFS and OS. Cytokinetic parameters generally strongly correlated with grade score and grade correlates, responsible for the increasing risk in combination with other risk factors like clinical stage and/or ploidy. Positivity in bcl-2 and MMP-9 was significantly related to OS of patients (not to EFS). Positivity of EGFR, c-erbB-2, CD34, p53 did not reached statistically significant value in association to EFS or OS.