Overexpression of the nuclear factor-kappa B (p65) in association with local failure in patients with head and neck carcinoma undergong radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) expression as a biologic marker to predict local control in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. The mRNA expression levels of the NF-κB family genes were determined with real-time-polymerase chain reaction in 77 patients with HNSCC treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. The mRNA NF-κB (p65) expression in pretreatment tumors was significantly related to local control (p = .03). The 5-year local recurrence-free survival rate in patients with low-level NF-κB (p65) expression (n = 42) was 79.9%, and in patients with a high level of expression it was 42.1% (p = .001). In a multivariate analysis, the mRNA NF-κB (p65) expression level was the only variable related to local control of the tumor. Expression of the NF-κB (p65) gene may be a radiosensitivity marker for patients with a HNSCC.