Predictive markers for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of maxillary sinus: Preliminary report.

CONCLUSION: ERCC 1 seems to be promising as a predictive marker for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and early decision for surgery in advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the maxillary sinus.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to find a possible relation of ERCC1 or XRCC1 expression with response to NAC and prognosis in advanced SCC of the maxillary sinus.

METHODS: From 1998 to 2006, 17 patients with advanced SCC of the maxillary sinus received NAC at the Seoul National University Hospital. The expression of ERCC1 and XRCC1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Complete and partial remissions were categorized as the chemo-sensitive group. On the other hand, stable and progressive diseases were categorized as the chemo-resistant group.

RESULTS: Of these 17 patients, 1 had complete remission, 6 had partial remission, 4 had stable disease, and 6 had progression of disease. The 5-year survival rate was 40% for all 17 patients. The expression of ERCC1 and XRCC1 was not correlated with nodal or distant metastasis. With a cut-off value of 65%, patients with higher ERCC1 scores showed chemo-resistance and survival disadvantage over those with lower ERCC1 scores. However, XRCC1 did not show a significant effect on the response to NAC.