The prognostic role of phospho-Src family kinase analysis in tongue cancer

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2010 Jan;136(1):27-34. doi: 10.1007/s00432-009-0633-1.

Abstract

Background: The up regulation of Phospho-Src family kinase oncogene has been correlated with reduced postoperative survival in various cancers but never in tongue cancer.

Methods: We analyzed phospho-Src family kinase in 39 tongue (mobile) cancer patients by immunohistochemistry, compared these results with similar analysis for TUNEL and c-erbB-2 and with both clinical tumor characteristics and patient survival probability rates.

Results: Phospho-Src family kinase overexpression was found in most tongue cancer biopsies (62%), significantly correlating with tumors larger in size (P = 0.05), progression—lymph node metastasis (0.004) and stage (P = 0.05), and correlating with TUNEL (P = 0.01) and c-erbB-2 (P = 0.05) expression rates. At 60 months, survival probability for negative phospho-Src family kinase level (=0) patients was 67%, but 30% for positive phospho-Src family kinase level (>0) patients (P = 0.05).

Conclusions: Inverse correlation between phospho-Src family kinase and patient survival demonstrates the prognostic role of phospho-Src family kinase in tongue cancer. These findings suggest a novel link between phospho-Src family kinase and TUNEL and c-erbB-2 pathways, tilting the balance toward cell proliferation.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Tongue Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Tongue Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Tyrosine
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • src-Family Kinases