Abstract 3567: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) profiles predict oral cancer recurrence in the Oral Cancer Recurrence Prediction Cohort

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has a poor prognosis with local recurrence occurring in up to 30% of cases. Oral mucosal changes are common at previously treated cancer sites; however, despite close follow-up, they often develop into recurrent tumor. LOH analysis has been shown to predict cancer recurrence in lesions at former tumour sites in retrospective studies. Objective: To determine the value of specific LOH markers in predicting oral cancer recurrence in samples from an ongoing longitudinal study. Design: Data were collected from 365 oral cancer patients enrolled in the Oral Cancer Recurrence Prediction Cohort. Methods: The study selection criteria included: 1) Patients originally diagnosed with carcinoma in situ (CIS) or SCC and treated with a curative intent (mostly Stage 0/I/II); 2) Appearance of a lesion at the tumor site during follow-up with biopsy histologically diagnosed as hyperplasia or low-grade (mild/moderate dysplasia) (higher diagnoses went to treatment); 3) Continued follow-up of patient; 4) Sufficient tissue in biopsy for LOH analysis. 71 patients met these criteria. Recurrence outcome was defined as development of severe dysplasia, CIS or SCC at the target site. Timeline was calculated from target date to outcome for recurring group or last follow-up date for non-recurring group. Target biopsies were analyzed using 19 microsatellite loci on 7 chromosome arms (3p, 4q, 8p, 9p, 11q, 13q, and 17p). Univariant Cox analysis was used to determine the prognostic value of clinical and microsatellite markers. Recursive partitioning trees and Kaplan Meier curves were constructed to create molecular models for both 9p and 3p. Results: Recurrence occurred in 26 or the 71 patients (36.6%) with 18 months median follow-up time (compared with 33 months in non-recurring patients). There were no differences between recurrent and non-recurrent groups for gender, ethnicity, tobacco habit, original diagnosis before treatment and histology of target biopsy (P>0.05). RR was significantly increased for cases with LOH at 9p, 3p, 8p, 13q and 17p (P Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3567. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3567