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Evaluation of incidence, significance, and prognostic role of circulating tumor microemboli and transforming growth factor‐β receptor I in head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Fanelli Marcello Ferretti,
Oliveira Thiago Bueno,
Braun Alexcia Camila,
Corassa Marcelo,
Abdallah Emne Ali,
Nicolau Ulisses Ribaldo,
da Silva Alves Vanessa,
Garcia Daniel,
Calsavara Vinicius F.,
Kowalski Luiz Paulo,
Chinen Ludmilla Thomé Domingos
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24899
Subject(s) - medicine , tumor progression , transforming growth factor , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , oncology , circulating tumor cell , hazard ratio , incidence (geometry) , metastasis , cancer , proportional hazards model , head and neck cancer , confidence interval , physics , optics
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.