ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The two major biologically distinct patterns of treatment failure following definitive therapy for the patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are the recurrence of primary tumor and the development of second primary tumor. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the polysomy of chromosome 17 has prognostic significance and is associated with the pattern of treatment failure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed nonfluorescent, nonisotopic, in situ hybridization using chromosome-specific centrometric DNA probe for chromosome 17 on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from the tumor tissue and the resection margins of 42 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were treated with definitive local therapy. RESULTS: In the tumor tissue, the polysomy of chromosome 17 was a significant predictor for recurrence and treatment failure. In the resection margins, the polysomy of chromosome 17 also showed a predictive significance for the treatment failure. Although there was a chromosomal change in the resection margins believed to be negative on light microscopy, it was also related to the treatment failure. CONCLUSION: The polysomy of chromosome 17 may be a valuable marker for identifying individuals who have the high risk of developing recurrence and treatment failure.