Abstract: PURPOSE: This study analyzed the role of Stathmin as a predictive biomarker on the long-term benefit of TPF induction chemotherapy based on a 11-year follow-up results. METHODS: Long-term follow-up results of 256 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients enrolled in the TPF induction chemotherapy trial were collected. Tumor biopsy specimens were collected for Stathmin immunohistochemical staining and scoring. Subgroup prognosis was analyzed according to the Stathmin expression. Stathmin and other baseline characteristics were analyzed by univariate, multivariate, and Cox regression model with SPSS 13.0 software package. RESULTS: Stathmin expression predicted the response of TPF induction chemotherapy in OSCC patients. OSCC patients with lower Stathmin expression benefited from TPF induction chemotherapy, while OSCC patients with higher Stathmin expression did not benefit from TPF induction chemotherapy. Stathmin expression was an independent predictor of long-term prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Stathmin is an independent biomarker for predicting the efficacy of TPF induction chemotherapy in OSCC. Subsequent clinical studies based on Stathmin screening will be meaningful for choice of TPF induction chemotherapy in OSCC.

Key words: Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Stathmin, Induction chemotherapy, Prognosis