CHROMOSOMAL-ABNORMALITIES INVOLVING 11Q13 ARE ASSOCIATED WITH POOR-PROGNOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK

Background. In individual patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), established prognostic factors do not satisfac torily predict clinical outcome. Although the karyotype is an independ ent prognostic factor in certain hematologic malignancies and solid tu mors, no data have been reported concerning the possible relationship between chromosomal abnormalities and clinical outcome in patients wit h SCCHN. Methods. In 116 cases of primary SCCHN, short term cultures w ere analyzed cytogenetically during 1987 through 1991, the karyotypes were divided into four groups: k1, normal (n = 35); k2, numeric change s only (n = 31); k3, simple structural abnormalities (n = 27); and k4, complex karyotypes (n = 23). The patients were followed for at least 18 months after diagnosis or until death. Results. The 2-year survival rate was lower in the k4 subgroup (35%) than in the k1, k2, and k3 su bgroups taken together (61%), both in the series as a whole (P = 0.02) , and in the largest tumor site subgroup, laryngeal squamous cell carc inoma (n = 32), (P = 0.04). The most prevalent breakpoint was in chrom osome band 11q13, occurring in 11 tumors, 10 of which belonged to the k4-subgroup. The 2-year survival rate was lower for patients with 11q1 3 rearrangements (20%) than for those without (60%), both in the serie s as a whole (P = 0.001), and in the k4-subgroup (P = 0.02). Conclusio ns. The results suggest that in SCCHN the presence of a complex karyot ype is associated with poor prognosis, particularly when 11q13 rearran gements are present.