PBK/TOPK Expression Predicts Prognosis in Oral Cancer

• Main Authors: Chin-Fang Chang, Sung-Lang Chen, Wen-Wei Sung, Ming-Ju Hsieh, Hui-Ting Hsu, Li-Hsin Chen, Mu-Kuan Chen, Jiunn-Liang Ko, Chih-Jung Chen, Ming-Chih Chou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: PBK (PDZ-binding kinase); TOPK (T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase); prognosis; head and neck cancer; metastasis; oral squamous cell carcinoma
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/17/7/1007

Oral cancer is a common cancer with poor prognosis. We evaluated the expression of PBK/TOPK (PDZ-binding kinase/T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase) and its prognostic significance in oral cancer. PBK/TOPK expression was measured by immunohistochemical staining of samples from 287 patients with oral cancer. The association between PBK/TOPK expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed. The prognostic value of PBK/TOPK for overall survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard models. A high PBK/TOPK expression level was correlated with long overall survival. The prognostic role of PBK/TOPK expression was significant in young patients (p < 0.05), patients with smoking habits (p < 0.05), and late stage disease (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that PBK/TOPK expression is enhanced in oral cancer. High PBK/TOPK expression, either alone or in subgroups according to clinicopathological features, may serve as a favorable prognostic marker for patients with oral cancer.