BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) are clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), involved in metastasis, as also transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The purpose of this study was to verify their role in progression-free survival (PFS). METHODS: Blood from patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC; n = 53) was analyzed in 2 moments. TGF-β receptor I (TGF-βRI) expression was evaluated by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Comparing CTM1 (baseline) with CTM2 (first follow-up), patients with CTM1-positive disease who became CTM2-negative were classified as favorable (PFS 20 months). Patients with unfavorable evolution (CTM1-negative/CTM2-positive), had PFS of 17.5 months. Patients always CTM-negative showed PFS of 22.4 months, those always positive, 4.7 months (P < .001). The TGF-βRI expression in the first follow-up correlated with poor PFS (12 × 26 months; P = .007), being an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio [HR] = 6.088; P = .033). CONCLUSION: CTM1/2, TGF-βRI expression, and unfavorable CTM kinetics may represent poor prognosis in locally advanced HNSCC.
BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) are clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), involved in metastasis, as also transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The purpose of this study was to verify their role in progression-free survival (PFS). METHODS: Blood from patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC; n = 53) was analyzed in 2 moments. TGF-β receptor I (TGF-βRI) expression was evaluated by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Comparing CTM1 (baseline) with CTM2 (first follow-up), patients with CTM1-positive disease who became CTM2-negative were classified as favorable (PFS 20 months). Patients with unfavorable evolution (CTM1-negative/CTM2-positive), had PFS of 17.5 months. Patients always CTM-negative showed PFS of 22.4 months, those always positive, 4.7 months (P < .001). The TGF-βRI expression in the first follow-up correlated with poor PFS (12 × 26 months; P = .007), being an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio [HR] = 6.088; P = .033). CONCLUSION:CTM1/2, TGF-βRI expression, and unfavorable CTM kinetics may represent poor prognosis in locally advanced HNSCC.
Authors: Emne A Abdallah; Alexcia C Braun; Bianca C T C P Flores; Laís Senda; Ana Cláudia Urvanegia; Vinicius Calsavara; Victor Hugo Fonseca de Jesus; Maria Fernanda Arruda Almeida; Maria Dirlei Begnami; Felipe J F Coimbra; Wilson Luiz da Costa; Diana Noronha Nunes; Emmanuel Dias-Neto; Ludmilla T Domingos Chinen Journal: Oncologist Date: 2019-03-07
Authors: Alexcia C Braun; Fernando A B Campos; Emne A Abdallah; Anna P C Ruano; Tiago da S Medina; Milena S Tariki; Fabio F E Pinto; Celso A L de Mello; Ludmilla T D Chinen Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2021-09-14 Impact factor: 6.244