PBK Expression Is Associated With Prognosis of Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated With Radiotherapy: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM:To investigate the impact of PDZ-binding kinase (PBK) on the clinical outcome of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who received radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS:PBK immunoreactivity of cancer specimens obtained from 179 patients with primary OSCC was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS:High PBK expression in tumor cells tended to be associated with advanced N-stage. The 5-year survival rate was greater for patients with high total PBK expression than in those with low PBK expression. After adjustment, high PBK remained associated with a favorable outcome. In subgroups according to tumor stage, the prognostic role was significant in patients with stage III/IV rather than those with stage I/II disease. CONCLUSION:We suggest that PBK expression should be used as an independent prognostic marker for patients with OSCC treated with radiotherapy, especially for those with advanced-stage disease.

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