Nuclear MASPIN expression relates to a better prognosis in elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma

Conclusion: MASPIN subcellular location can be considered a prognostic marker that is potentially useful for identifying elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma at higher risk of early loco-regional recurrence, who may benefit from more aggressive therapy. In a targeted treatment setting, re-activated nuclear MASPIN in combination with anti-angiogenic and/or cytotoxic drugs may be effective in treating laryngeal carcinoma in elderly patients. Objectives: Aging is associated with molecular, cellular, and physiological changes that influence carcinogenesis and cancer growth. MASPIN has multifaceted antitumor effects and available evidence supports the hypothesis that its subcellular location influences its functions. The aim of the present study was to firstly assess the potential prognostic role of subcellular MASPIN location in elderly patients (>65 years old) with laryngeal carcinoma. Methods: MASPIN expression and location were immunohistochemically determined in 68 consecutive elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Results: Nodal involvement and pathological stage correlated strongly with the prognosis for laryngeal carcinomas in elderly patients, in terms of disease recurrence rate and disease-free survival. The loco-regional recurrence rate was significantly lower (p = 0.041) and the disease-free survival after treatment was significantly longer (p = 0.045) in cases with a nuclear pattern of MASPIN subcellular expression.