Genetic imbalances with impact on survival in head and neck cancer patients

Chromosomal imbalances in 113 primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma s (HNSCCs) determined by comparative genomic hybridization were correlated with patients survival using custom-made computer software which enabled th e assessment of individual chromosomal loci. The Kaplan-Meier analysis reve aled that overrepresentations of 2q12, 3q21-29, 6p21.1, 11q13, 14q23, 14q24 , 14q31, 14q32, 15q24, 16q22, and deletions of 8p21-22 and 18q11.2 were sig nificantly associated with both shorter disease-free interval and disease-s pecific survival in this tumor collective. Multivariate Cox proportional ha zards regression models consistently identified the gains of 3q21-29, 11q13 , and the loss of 8p21-22 as independent prognostic markers carrying a high er significance than the nodal status as the only clinicopathological param eter with statistical importance, in addition, these three markers allowed a molecular dissection of the patients with low clinical risk (pN0 and pT2 tumors). Thus, the genomic data being derived from the evaluation of primar y HNSCC enabled a stratification of the patients into subgroups with differ ent survival highlighting the necessity of a genetically based tumor classi fication for refining diagnosis and treatment of HNSCC patients.