HOXA9 Expression is Associated with Advanced Tumour Stage and Prognosis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Tiancong Liu; Chao Ji; Yang Sun; Weiliang Bai

doi:10.2147/CMAR.S305814

HOXA9 Expression is Associated with Advanced Tumour Stage and Prognosis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Cancer Manag Res. 2021 May 21:13:4147-4154. doi: 10.2147/CMAR.S305814. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Tiancong Liu¹, Chao Ji², Yang Sun¹, Weiliang Bai¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Background: Homeobox A9 (HOXA9), a member of the HOX protein family, plays diverse biological roles in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. The prognostic value of HOXA9 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not well-defined. The present study aimed to analyse NPC tissue HOXA9 expression and determine prognostic significance by investigating the relationship between HOXA9 expression and clinicopathologic features.

Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2014, 252 NPC patients and 30 chronic nasopharyngitis patients (control group) were recruited to participate in the present study. Correlations between HOXA9 expression level and clinicopathologic features (including survival) were analysed.

Results: High HOXA9 expression was significantly associated with clinical stage (p < 0.01) and higher T stage (p < 0.01). In univariate analysis, high HOXA9 expression predicted overall survival (OS) (p = 0.011). In multivariate analysis, HOXA9 over-expression independently and significantly predicted poorer PFS (p < 0.01, hazard ratio (HR) = 2.387, 95% CI [0.876, 6.545]) and OS (p < 0.01, HR = 2.486, 95% CI [1.041, 8.926]).

Conclusion: High HOXA9 expression is an independent prognostic factor associated with advanced tumour stage and poorer survival in NPC patients.

Keywords: HOXA9; NPC; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; prognosis.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Projects of Shenyang Science and Technology Bureau (grant no. 20-205-4-029).