Circulating markers and growth factors as prognosticators in men with advanced tongue cancer

A retrospective study was performed on 52 advanced tongue cancer patients (stages III + IV) in order to assess the prognostic value of circulating prolactin, tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). These markers were correlated with short-term prognosis (2 years). The advanced tongue cancer patients had significantly elevated levels of prolactin (p < 0.02), TPS (p < 0.05) and EGF (p < 0.01) and low levels of IGF-1 when compared to controls. The patients were grouped according to the commonly used cut-off levels of these markers. A significant difference in survival was observed only between two subgroups of prolactin (< 15.0 and > 15.0 ng/ml; p < 0.001). Hence, prolactin may provide an independent predictor of short-term prognosis in patients with advanced tongue cancer.