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mTOR expression and prognosis in elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma: Uni- and multivariate analyses

Authors :
Marioni, Gino
Staffieri, Alberto
Lora, Lucia
Fermo, Salvatore
Giacomelli, Luciano
La Torre, Fabio Biagio
Favaretto, Niccolò
Valentini, Elisa
Manzato, Enzo
Blandamura, Stella
Source :
Oral Oncology. Jun2012, Vol. 48 Issue 6, p530-534. 5p.
Publication Year :
2012

Abstract

Summary: Cancer is common in the elderly, who may also be frail, which can complicate the choice of the best therapeutic approach. We sought to examine whether the serine–threonine kinase mTOR, a “master switch” in cancer cells that modulates metabolism, the cell cycle, and apoptosis, might help in clinical decision-making. The aim of the present study was thus to assess the potential prognostic role of mTOR in elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma (LSCC). mTOR expression was determined immunohistochemically in 54 consecutive elderly (⩾65years old) patients with LSCC. On univariate analysis, nodal involvement and pathological stage correlated strongly with the elderly LSCC patients’ prognosis in terms of disease recurrence rate and disease-free survival (DFS). Patients whose mTOR expression was >35.3% had a significantly higher recurrence rate (p =0.003) and shorter DFS (p =0.013). In the multivariate model, N status (p =0.001) and mTOR expression (p =0.026) maintained an independent prognostic significance in relation to DFS. mTOR probably influences the aggressive LSCC phenotype in elderly patients and its expression in elderly LSCC cases can be considered a prognostic marker potentially useful for identifying patients at higher risk of disease recurrence, and N0 patients at higher risk of recurrence who may benefit from more aggressive treatment. Since rapalogs (as mTOR inhibitors) might have an effect on LSCC, further investigations are needed to ascertain these agents’ role in therapeutic strategies for advanced LSCC in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13688375
Volume :
48
Issue :
6
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Oral Oncology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
76160801
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2012.01.002