Molecular biomarkers of prognosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Introduction Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma represents an important cause of cancerrelated death. Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is the sec ond most common type of head and neck malignancies, with a total of 12,000 new cases diagnosed yearly in the United States. The clinical value of several molecules as molecular biomarkers for prognosis of laryn geal squamous cell carcinoma as well as for monitoring the response of laryngeal squamous cell carci noma patients to treatment is high. This review summarises the clinical importance of tumour protein p53, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, marker of proliferation Ki67, cyclins, cyclindependent kinase 4, inhibitors of cyclindependent kinases, epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor A and its receptor, Bcell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein family members, kal likreinrelated peptidase 11, 3,4di hydroxylphenylalanine decarbox ylase and microRNAs. Conclusion Deregulation of protein or mRNA expression of these genes in laryn geal squamous cell carcinoma com pared to benign laryngeal tumours, dysplasias, or normal tissues of the larynx suggests that these potential molecular biomarkers merit further validation owing to their impor tant prognostic value in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma treatment.