NR2F6 as a Prognostic Biomarker in HNSCC

• Main Authors: Luise Klapper, Julika Ribbat-Idel, Patrick Kuppler, Finn-Ole Paulsen, Karl-Ludwig Bruchhage, Dirk Rades, Anne Offermann, Jutta Kirfel, Barbara Wollenberg, Christian Idel, Sven Perner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: HNSCC; NR2F6; local recurrence; prognosis; recurrence-free survival; biomarker
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/15/5527
• ISSN: 1661-6596; 1422-0067

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)is the 6th most common cancer in humans worldwide and is associated with a poor prognosis for patients. NR2F6 has been identified as an immune checkpoint molecule in tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes and is associated with a poor prognostic outcome in various cancers. The prognostic value of NR2F6 in HNSCC has not been described yet. We used a large, representative and clinically well-characterized cohort of 383 HNSCC patients, of which 22.4% developed a local recurrence. The NR2F6 expression was analyzed by using immunohistochemistry and was afterward correlated with clinical characteristics and clinicopathological features of HNSCC patients. Primary tumors from patients who develop a local recurrence have a higher NR2F6 expression than primary tumors which do not develop a local recurrence. Furthermore, a high NR2F6 expression is associated with poorer recurrence-free survival, although there is no correlation with overall survival. NR2F6 expression is independent of the T stage and UICC stage. NR2F6 might be a new prognostic biomarker for the early detection of local recurrences in HNSCC patients. Therefore, it may help to improve the recognition of patients who would benefit from more frequent follow-up examinations.