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Background: Tumor budding is a readily detectable histopathologic feature that has been recognized as an adverse prognostic factor in several human cancers.Objective: We sought to assess the correlation of tumor budding with the clinicopathologic features and the prognostic value of tumor budding in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).Methods: Forty-nine primary nonmetastatic and 49 primary metastatic cSCCs to regional lymph nodes were retrospectively studied. Statistical analyses were carried out to assess the relationship between tumor budding, clinicopathologic parameters, and patient survival.Results: Tumor budding was observed in 45 cases of 98 (46%). High-intensity budding (≥5 tumor buds) was observed in 20 tumors. Presence of tumor buds was a significant risk factor for nodal metastasis with crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of 8.92 (95% CI, 4.39-18.1) and 6.93 (95% CI, 3.30-14.5), respectively, and for reduced overall survival time (crude and adjusted HRs of 2.03 [95% CI, 1.26-3.28] and 1.72 [95% CI, 1.05-2.83], respectively).Limitations: This was a retrospective study limited to cSCCs of the head and neck. Examined tumors were >2 mm thick, and all were from a primary excision.Conclusion: These results indicate an increased frequency of nodal metastasis and risk of death in patients with tumor buds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and cortactin overexpression is frequently detected in a variety of cancers, and has been associated with poor clinical outcome. However, there are no data in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)., Objective: To investigate the relationship of FAK and cortactin expression with the clinicopathologic features and the impact on the prognosis of cSCC patients., Methods: FAK and cortactin expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 100 patients with cSCC, and correlated with the clinical data., Results: FAK overexpression was a significant risk factor for nodal metastasis with crude and adjusted ratios (HRs) of 2.04, (95% CI [1.08-3.86], [P = 0.029]) and 2.23 (95% CI [1.01-4.91], [P = 0.047]), respectively. Cortactin expression was not a significant risk factor for nodal metastasis., Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that FAK overexpression is an independent predictor of nodal metastasis that might be helpful for risk stratification and management of patients with cSCC., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)