Prognostic value of osteopontin in patients treated with primary radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND The prognostic value of tumor osteopontin (OPN) in patients with squamous-cell head and neck cancer (SCHNC) was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS OPN expression was assessed by immunohistochemical methods in 50 patients, who were treated with primary radiotherapy (RT) for locally advanced SCHNC. The effects of OPN on clinical parameters, local-regional control after RT and metastasis-free survival, was assessed. RESULTS The rate of OPN expression in tumor tissue was 76%. OPN positive cases had lower Hb levels (p=0.088). Mean time to local recurrence was 53.8 months (SE 3.9) in OPN-negative cases and 39.1 months (SE 4.7) in OPN-positive cases (p=0.047). OPN increased the risk of local recurrence 5.9 times (p=0.085). It had no effect on metastasis-free (p=0.116) or overall survival (p=0.123). OPN was positive in 12 of 19 cases that developed grade 3-4 acute radiation dermatitis (p=0.096). CONCLUSIONS OPN expression is associated with an increase in local recurrence in patients who were treated with primary RT for locally advanced SCHNC.