A potential new biomarker in HNSCC: metastasis suppressor protein 1 (MTSS1)

Abstract

ObjectiveMetastasis suppressor protein 1 (MTSS1) is a prognostic tumour marker in different malignant epithelial tumour entities and previously mainly the MTSS1 expression was analyzed. This study evaluated the best analysis method as a prognosis and aggressiveness tumour marker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Study DesignMTSS1 expression, MTSS1 intensity, interpretation MTSS1 score and MTSS1 edging score were analysed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue slices of 60 patients with proven HNSCC and correlated with clinical and pathological outcome parameters. ResultsA lack of MTSS1 expression showed tumour aggressiveness, but surprisingly, mainly MTSS1 intensity was correlated with a worse patient outcome. There was a significant correlation between higher MTSS1 intensity and an increased risk for lymph node metastasis (p = 0.027) and a significant increased risk for extracapsular growth (p = 0.016). Furthermore, disease-specific survival was worse in cases with higher MTSS1 intensity (p = 0.001). ConclusionMTSS1 intensity has a high scientific potential for further studies and could potentially be used as a prognostic marker in diagnostic and therapeutic decision making.