Survivin and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in surgically treated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin play important roles in the regulation of cellular proliferation and survival in squamous cell carcinomas. Their correlation in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been evaluated yet.

In this multicenter study, we analyzed the expression of survivin and EGFR in tissue specimens from 73 selected patients with OSCC using immunohistochemistry.

Higher cytoplasmic survivin scores were significantly correlated with high scores of EGFR expression (p=.013). Nuclear survivin expression was associated with a poor overall survival rate with an estimated 3-year overall survival probability of 17.3% versus 87.4% for non-nuclear expression of survivin (p<.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that nuclear survivin expression was an independent negative prognostic factor (p=.008).

Considering the strong impact of nuclear survivin expression on survival, the survivin expression should be prospectively evaluated to select patients with an increased risk for disease recurrence.