Cyclin D1 overexpression versus response to induction chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck - Preliminary report

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association be tween overexpression of cyclin D1 and response to therapy. Immunohistochemi cal overexpression of cyclin D1 was determined in paraffin-embedded specime ns from diagnostic biopsies of 89 primary cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), using a polyclonal antiserum. The tumor respo nse rates were estimated after curative treatment (i.e. surgery and/or radi otherapy and/or chemotherapy). Patients whose tumors were overexpressing cy clin DI showed complete or partial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy wit h cisplatin/5-FU, In addition, a majority of cyclin DI negative tumors did not respond at all to this treatment (p = 0.02, Fisher's exact test). This study indicates that immunohistochemical assessment of cyclin D1 expression in SCCHN could be a new predictive marker to select a subgroup of patients that will benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy.