Chemokine receptors seem to impact on patient survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

15527 Background and Methods: Chemokine receptors seem to be involved in tumor spread to lymph nodes and influence outcome in cancer patients (pts). Here, we have determined the mRNA expression of CCR7, CX3CR1 and CXCR1 chemokines, by means of Ribonuclease Protection Assay, in 60 fragments of primary tumor and matched adjacent mucosa of pts with head and neck squamous cells carcinoma (HNSCC) submitted to curative surgery. For Kaplan Meier survival curves, pts were categorized for each chemokine as positive or negative if above or equal/below median densitometric value of the entire tumor group. Results: In the whole study population, CCR7 status did not impact on overall survival (OS) (P=0.118, Log Rank) and on disease free survival (DFS) (P = 0.102), neither. When the subgroup of oral SCC was considered (n = 19), the CCR7 negative pts (n = 10) presented a longer DFS and OS (median DFS and OS not reached) as compared to CCR7 positive pts (n = 9) (mDFS: 4.9 months, P = 0.001 and mOS 10.47 months P = 0.003). In the HNSCC group as a whole, the CX3CR1 negative pts presented a trend toward longer OS (mOS 26.60 months in negative group, n = 25 vs 15.43 months in the positive group, n = 35, P = 0.073) and a longer DFS (mDFS not reached in CX3CR1 negative vs 9.20 months in positive pts, P = 0.041). In the oral SCC subgroup, CX3CR1 negative pts (n = 8) presented significantly better DFS (mDFS not reached) as compared to CX3CR1 positive pts (n = 11, mDFS 4.9 months, P = 0.004). OS was also superior for oral SCC CX3CR1 negative (mOS not reached) as compared to positive pts (mOS 10.47 months, P = 0.008). Taking into account larynx SCC, mDFS and mOS were not reached for CX3CR1 negative pts (n = 5) as compared to positive pts (n = 11, mDFS 8.57 months, P = 0.016; mOS 12.37 months, P = 0.041). In larynx subgroup, the other receptor associated to an advantage in terms of both DFS and OS was the negativity for CXCR1 (mDFS not reached for negative vs 8.47 months for positive pts, P = 0.006; mOS not reached for negative vs 8.47 months for positive pts, P = 0.025). Conclusions: Even if the mechanisms are not clear, our data suggest that low expression of CCR7, CX3CR1 and CXCR1 mRNA may be markers of better outcome in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Further studies are warranted to confirm these results. No significant financial relationships to disclose.