Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor-ligand based molecular staging predicts prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma partly due to deregulated EGF- induced amphiregulin expression.

Background: Increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its ligands is associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in many carcinoma types, but its role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unclear. Our aim was to clarify whether mRNA expression of EGFR-ligands was linked to prognosis and cisplatin resistance, and if so, which ligand was most important and how was the expression regulated.

Methods: To examine the prognostic effect of EGFR-ligand expression, we analyzed tumorous mRNA expression in 399 HNSCC patients.

High nuclear SOX2 expression is associated with radiotherapy response in small (T1/T2) oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: Expression of the stem cell transcription factor SOX2 is often used to imply stemness and poor prognosis in cancer. However, its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not fully elucidated.

Material And Methods: Tumour tissues from 62 patients with primary, node negative and non-metastatic OSCCs were used to evaluate SOX2 expression by immunohistochemistry.