Predictive value of pAKT/PTEN expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma treated with cetuximab-based chemotherapy

ObjectiveMolecular alterations in downstream effectors of epidermal growth factor receptor may confer resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors. Our aim is to investigate whether PTEN/pAKT expression predicts response to cetuximab-based chemotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma.Study DesignWe analyzed a cohort of 50 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma treated with cetuximab-based induction chemotherapy. PTEN expression and pAKT expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry and their correlation with treatment outcome was analyzed.ResultsOf the study patients, 18.4% had low PTEN expression, and 38.8% had high pAKT expression. Lower pAKT expression were associated with pathologic remission (P = .034) and better disease-free survival (P = .031).ConclusionOur study demonstrates that pAKT expression is a predictive biomarker of cetuximab-based induction chemotherapy in OSCC.