Predictive value of excision repair cross- complementation group 1 expression in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy is recommended for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at advanced stages. Excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) plays an important function in the repair of DNA damage that is a critical process of chemo- and radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of ERCC1 expression in NPC treated with cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally advanced NPC.

METHODS

The expression level of ERCC1 and its association with clinicopathological characteristics in 205 locoregionally advanced NPC patients receiving cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The correlation analysis revealed that the treatment-sensitive patients displayed dramatically lower ERCC1 expression than treatment-resistant cases did. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier plots revealed lower ERCC1 expression was significantly associated with better survival. Multivariate analysis further showed that the ERCC1 expression was an independent predictor of NPC patients' survival.

CONCLUSIONS

ERCC1 expression might be a useful predictive marker in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC receiving cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy.