cIAP-2 expression increases in elderly patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Aim/Background

Recent study showed the response to induction of apoptosis and cell death varied by age. Over expression of cIAP-2, a member of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein family, has been found in tumors from squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) but its correlation with age and survival in SCCHN has not been evaluated yet. Thus, we analyzed the expression of c-IAP2 and its impact on the survival of elderly patients with resected SCCHN.

Methods

Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for cIAP-2 and other previously reported molecular markers were performed using tissue microarrays from 103 resected SCCHN patients. The expression was grouped according to IHC scores [negative (0), low expression (1, 2), and high expression (3)]. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the association of the association of cIAP-2 expression with clinical-pathological factors.

Results

Thirty-three out of 103 studied patients (32.0%) were older than 60. High expression of cIAP-2 was observed in 14 (13.6%) cases. It was significantly higher in patients aged 60 or greater (age <60 vs. age > = 60, 1.4% vs. 15.2%, P = 0.012, Fisher's exact test). High expression of cIAP-2 and an age ≥60 were significantly associated with worse survival in univariate analysis (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively, log-rank test) but only an age ≥60, and not cIAP-2 expression, was prognostic in multivariate analysis (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for age ≥60: 2.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-4.97; HR for high expression of cIAP-2:0.93, 95% CI: 0.30-2.90).

Conclusions

High expression of cIAP-2 was found more frequently in elderly SCCHN patients but was not independently associated with survival after adjusting other clinical-pathologic factors.

Clinical trial identification

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.