Nodal metastasis and survival in oral cancer: Association with protein expression of SLPI, not with LCN2, TACSTD2, or THBS2

BackgroundGene expression profiling revealed a strong signature predicting lymph node metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Four of the most predictive genes are secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), lipocalin-2 (LCN2), thrombospondin-2 (THBS2), and tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2). This study correlates their protein expression with lymph node metastases, overall survival (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS). MethodsTwo hundred twelve patients with OSCC were included for protein expression analysis by immunohistochemistry. ResultsSLPI expression correlates with lymph node metastases in the whole cohort, not in a subgroup of cT1 to 2N0. SLPI expression correlates with OS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.61) and DSS (HR=0.47) in multivariate analysis. LCN2, THBS2, and TACSTD2 show no correlation with lymph node metastases, OS, or DSS. ConclusionAlthough SLPI expression correlates with lymph node metastases, it has no additional value in determining lymph node metastases in early oral cancer. However, it is an independent predictor for both OS and DSS and therefore a relevant prognostic biomarker in OSCC. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck37: 1130-1136, 2015