Overexpression of FGFR3 in HPV-positive Tonsillar and Base of Tongue Cancer Is Correlated to Outcome

• Published in: Anticancer research 2018-08, Vol.38 (8), p.4683-4690
• Main Authors: Bersani, Cinzia, Haeggblom, Linnea, Ursu, Ramona G, Giusca, Simona E, Marklund, Linda, Ramqvist, Torbjörn, Näsman, Anders, Dalianis, Tina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - virology; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3; Fibroblast growth factor receptors; Growth factors; Head and Neck Neoplasms - genetics; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - virology; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Medical prognosis; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Mutation; Mutation - genetics; Oral cancer; Papillomaviridae - pathogenicity; Papillomavirus Infections - genetics; Papillomavirus Infections - pathology; Patients; Prognosis; Proteins; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 - genetics; Squamous cell carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Tongue; Tongue Neoplasms - genetics; Tongue Neoplasms - pathology; Tongue Neoplasms - virology; Tonsil; Tonsillar Neoplasms - genetics; Tonsillar Neoplasms - pathology; Tonsillar Neoplasms - virology
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530; 1791-7530
• DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.12774

Human papillomavirus-positive (HPV ) tonsillar and base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC/BOTSCC) have better outcome than corresponding HPV cancers. To better individualize treatment, additional predictive markers are needed. Previously, we have shown that mutated fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 protein (FGFR3) was correlated to poorer prognosis and here FGFR3 expression was further analyzed. One-hundred-fifteen HPV TSCC/ BOTSCC biopsies were analyzed for FGFR3 by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and 109/115 were analyzed for FGFR3 mutations by Ion Proton sequencing, or by Competitive Allele-Specific Taqman PCR (CAST-PCR). Disease-free survival (DFS) was then calculated according to FGFR3 IHC expression. CAST-PCR was useful for detecting the three most common FGFR3 mutations. Focusing especially on the 98/115 patients with HPV TSCC/BOTSCC and wild-type FGFR3, high FGFR3 expression correlated to significantly better 3-year DFS, p=0.043. In patients with HPV TSCC/BOTSCC and wild-type FGFR3, overexpression of FGFR3 was correlated with better DFS.