Expression of ezrin in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Prognostic impact and clinicopathological correlations.

INTRODUCTION: There have been few investigations into the effects of ezrin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of ezrin expression on the prognosis of patients with OSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients were included in the retrospective study. Expression and localization of ezrin were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Associations were identified using chi(2) tests. Prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-six (95%) patients showed ezrin expression. Ezrin expression had a significant impact on overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001). With increasing expression, the 5-year OS rate dropped from 100% for ezrin-negative patients to 47% for patients with high expression. Multivariate analysis confirmed the significant influence of ezrin expression on OS (p = 0.011). Cytoplasmic localization of ezrin led to a significantly lower survival rate in comparison with membranous expression. CONCLUSIONS: Ezrin may serve as a biomarker that predicts biologically aggressive behavior of OSCC and hence improves therapeutic techniques and the prognosis of patients affected with the disease.