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. 2012 Sep 20:12:416.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-416.

Copy number amplification of the PIK3CA gene is associated with poor prognosis in non-lymph node metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Toshihito Suda  1 , Takanori Hama, Shu Kondo, Yuki Yuza, Mamoru Yoshikawa, Mitsuyoshi Urashima, Takakuni Kato, Hiroshi Moriyama
Affiliations

Copy number amplification of the PIK3CA gene is associated with poor prognosis in non-lymph node metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Toshihito Suda et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Deregulation of the EGFR signaling pathway is one of the most frequently observed genetic abnormalities that drives cancer development. Although mutations in the downstream components of the EGFR signaling pathway, including KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA, have been reported in numerous cancers, extensive mutation and copy number analysis of these genes in clinical samples has not been performed for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: We examined the mutations and copy number alterations of KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA in 115 clinical specimens of HNSCC obtained from surgically treated patients.We used DNA sequencing to detect mutations and the copy number changes were evaluated by qPCR and array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis.

Results: We examined the mutations and copy number alterations of KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA in 115 clinical specimens of HNSCC obtained from surgically treated patients. We identified 3 mutations (2.6%) in K-RAS and 3 mutations (2.6%) in PIK3CA. Copy number amplification was found in 37 cases (32.2%) for PIK3CA, 10 cases (8.7%) for K-RAS and 2 cases (1.7%) for BRAF. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that copy-number amplification of PIK3CA was markedly associated with cancer relapse in patients without lymph node metastasis. (Log-rank test, p = 0.026)

Conclusions: Copy number amplification of the PIK3CA gene is associated with poor prognosis in HNSCC patients without lymph node metastasis. The PIK3CA copy number status will serve as a marker of poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
115 patients with PIK3CA copy number status. Kaplan-Meier curves for disease-free survival (A) and over-all survival (B). Patients were with or without PIK3CA copy number amplification. The p-values were estimated using the log-rank test
Figure 2
Figure 2
Restricting 59 patients without lymph node metastases. Kaplan-Meier curves for disease-free survival. Patients with or without amplification in PIK3CA, restricting to 59 patients without lymph node metastases. The p-values were estimated using the log-rank test
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