RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of E-cadherin, CD44H, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), nm23H1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its relationship to the effect of radiotherapy. Furthermore, to analyze the predict value of radiotherapy effect. METHODS: The expressions of E-cadherin, CD44H, MMP-3, nm23H1 and VEGF in 62 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were determined by immunohistochemical SP method. There were 62 patients (17 to 70 years old) with nasopharyngeal carcinoma which were treated by radiotherapy from March 1995 to October 1995 and the period of follow-up had full 10 years. RESULTS: The expressions of CD44H (chi2 = 18.739, P = 0.028) and VEGF (chi2 = 18.523, P = 0.030) were closely related with short-term effect after radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The short-term effect was descent along with enhancement of their expressions. In the group of low expressions in CD44H and nm23H1, 3-year overall survival rate were 65.5% and 45.5%, and 5-year overall survival rate were 47.3% and 22.7%. In the group of high expressions in CD44H and nm23H1, 3-year overall survival rate were 54.6% and 75.9%, and 5-year overall survival rate were 27.8% and 53.2%. There were respectively significant difference between two group of expressions in CD44H (chi2 = 7.31, P = 0.0069) and nm23H1 (chi2 = 15.64, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that to detect the expressions of CD44H and VEGF gene may predict short-term effect of radiotherapy. Furthermore, to detect the expressions of CD44H and nm23H1 gene may predict long-term effect of radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
