Syndecan-1 expression in laryngeal cancer

Syndecan-1 is a member of the syndecan family of cell surface heparan sulphate proteoglycans. The aim of this study was the evaluation of syndecan-1 expression in laryngeal cancer. The findings were correlated both with the clinico-pathological parameters of the tumours and with patient survival. Paraffin-embedded samples from 48 patients with laryngeal cancer selected from the files of the ENT Department of the Medical Academy in Lublin were immunostained with anti-syndecan-1 monoclonal antibody. The patients’ mean age was 56 years, and 69% survived for over 3 years . Syndecan-1 immunoreactivity was observed in 48 (100%) of carcinomas. In our study, statistically significant correlations were observed both between syndecan-1 expression and patient survival (Chi-square = 4.364; P<0.05) and between syndecan-1 expression and clinical stage of disease (Chi-square = 4.363; P<0.05). Significant differences in syndecan-1 expression were also observed with various stages of histological differentiation of the carcinomas (Chi-square = 6.588; P<0.05), and also according to the presence or absence of metastatic changes in the regional lymph nodes (Chi-square = 6.289; P<0.05). Our results indicate that syndecan-1 could be used as a prognostic marker in laryngeal cancer.