Evaluation of incidence, significance, and prognostic role of circulating tumor microemboli and transforming growth factor-beta receptor I in head and neck cancer

Author(s):Show less -

Fanelli, Marcello Ferretti ^[1] ; Oliveira, Thiago Bueno ^[1] ; Braun, Alexcia Camila ^[2] ; Corassa, Marcelo ^{[2, 1]} ; Abdallah, Emne Ali ^[2] ; Nicolau, Ulisses Ribaldo ^[1] ; Alves, Vanessa da Silva ^[2] ; Garcia, Daniel ^[1] ; Calsavara, Vinicius F. ^[2] ; Kowalski, Luiz Paulo ^[3] ; Domingos Chinen, Ludmilla Thome ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] AC Camargo Canc Ctr, Dept Med Oncol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] AC Camargo Canc Ctr, Int Res Ctr, Rua Tagua 440, BR-01508010 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] AC Camargo Canc Ctr, Dept Otolaryngol Head & Neck Surg, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK; v. 39, n. 11, p. 2283-2292, NOV 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

Background: Circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) are clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), involved in metastasis, as also transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). 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; n553) was analyzed in 2 moments. TGF-beta receptor I (TGFbRI) 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-beta RI expression in the first follow-up correlated with poor PFS (12326 months; P5.007), being an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio {[}HR] 56.088; P5.033). Conclusion: CTM1/2, TGF-beta RI expression, and unfavorable CTM kinetics may represent poor prognosis in locally advanced HNSCC. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/08125-7 - Detection of circulating tumor cells and their correlation with clinical evolution in epidermoid carcinoma of head and neck
• Grantee: Ludmilla Thomé Domingos Chinen
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants