Syndecan-1 expression has prognostic significance in head and neck carcinoma

The syndecans are a family of cell-surface heparan sulphate proteoglycans that regulate cell behaviour by binding extracellular matrix molecules such as growth factors. The syndecan family has four members, of which syndecan-1 is the most studied and best characterized. We have studied the prognostic significance of syndecan-1 expression in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck treated with surgery and post-operative radiotherapy. Paraffin-embedded tissue samples taken from 175 patients with primary SCC, followed up from 2 to 15 years after surgery, were studied for expression of syndecan-1 by immunohistochemistry. A low number (less than or equal to 50%, the median value) of syndecan-1-positive tumour cells was associated with low histological grade of differentiation (P < 0.0001), a targe primary tumour size (T1-2 vs T3-4, P=0.02), positive nodal status (NO vs N1-3, P= 0.0006), and high clinical stage (stage I or Il vs III or IV, P< 0.0001). Low syndecan-1 expression was also associated with unfavourable overall survival in a univariate analysis (P= 0.001). In a multivariate survival analysis, the clinical stage and syndecan-1 expression were the only independent prognostic factors. We conclude that syndecan-1 is a novel prognostic factor in SCC of the head and neck treated with surgery and post-operative radiotherapy.