Abstract
Objective: We investigated the expression and clinical significance of activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ACVRL1) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Method: Patients diagnosed with HNSCC (n = 169) underwent surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for aggressive tumors between November 2000 and March 2004. ACVRL1 expression was assessed using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry approaches by tissue microarray.
Results: High levels of ACVRL1 expression were significantly correlated with advanced T classification, positive N classification, advanced TNM stage, lymphovascular invasion, and extracapsular spread of lymph node. A poor 5-year overall survival rate was associated with high ACVRL1 expression (P = .0001), advanced T classification (P = .0075), positive N classification (P = .0024), advanced TNM stage (P = .0077), and extracapsular spread of lymph node (P = .0002), but a multivariate analysis using Cox’s regression model revealed that the only independent prognostic factors for survival were ACVRL1 expression (P = .002) and ECS (P = .007).
Conclusion: ACVRL1 is not only an important prognostic factor but also contributes to the development of new therapeutic strategies in HNSCC patients.
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