This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Lehnerdt, G. F. Articles by Frey, U. H. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lehnerdt, G. F. Articles by Frey, U. H.

Overall and Relapse-Free Survival in Oropharyngeal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Are Associated with Genotypes of T393C Polymorphism of the GNAS1 Gene

Authors' Affiliations: ¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ² Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, ³ Department of Radiotherapy at the West German Cancer Center Essen, ⁴ Institute of Pharmacogenetics, ⁵ Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, and ⁶ Member of the West-German Cancer Center Essen (WTZE), University of Essen, Essen, Germany

Requests for reprints: Goetz Lehnerdt, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraβe 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. Phone: 49-201-723-2481; Fax: 49-201-723-5903; E-mail: goetz.lehnerdt{at}uni-due.de.

Purpose: In previous studies, we have shown that the T allele of a specific single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the Gs gene (T393C) correlates with increased Gs expression and hence apoptosis. The T allele was associated with a favorable outcome in a variety of human cancers, e.g., carcinoma of the urinary bladder, kidney, and colorectum.

Experimental Design: The prognostic value of the T393C SNP was evaluated in an unselected series of patients treated with curative intent for oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas, including all tumor stages with different therapeutic regimens. Genotype analysis was done using DNA from paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 202 patients (162 men, 40 women) with a median follow-up of 38 months (1-133 months). The various genotypes were correlated with relapse-free and overall survival.

Results: GNAS1 393C homozygous patients displayed a higher risk for disease progression than T393 homozygous patients (hazard ratio CC versus TT, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.2; P = 0.019). The same genotype effect was observed for overall survival with CC genotypes at higher risk for death compared with TT genotypes (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.9; P = 0.015). Multivariate analysis showed that, besides American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, tumor localization, and gender, the T393C polymorphism was an independent prognostic factor for disease progression and death.

Conclusion: The T393C SNP could be considered as a genetic marker to predict the clinical course of patients suffering from oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.