Prognostic implication of ERCC1 protein expression in resected oropharynx and oral cavity cancer

Abstract Background Excision repair cross complement group 1 (ERCC1) expression is a predictive biomarker for platinum-containing treatment in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN). However, the prognostic significance after surgical resection is not well understood. Methods Oropharynx (n = 143) or oral cavity (n = 61) SCCHN patients undergoing surgery were included. ERCC1 protein expression and HPV status were assessed by ERCC1 and p16 immunohistochemistry. Results The ERCC1, over-expressed in 66.7% of patients, was associated with oral cavity cancer ( P   0.001), well differentiation ( P  = 0.036), and HPV negativity ( P   0.001). In TCGA database, ERCC1 mRNA upregulation was enriched in HPV-negative and oral cavity cancers, and associated with HRAS mutation ( P   0.001). The prognostic role of ERCC1 was not different according to HPV status. High ERCC1 expression showed a trend toward poor prognosis in patients with an advanced stage ( P  = 0.079) with marginal significance. Conclusions The ERCC1 expression was not prognostic in surgically resected oropharynx/oral cavity SCCHN, irrespective of HPV status. However, it could provide additional prognostic information for advanced stage patients.