Predictive value of excision repair cross-complementation group 1 expression in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy is recommended for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at advanced stages. Excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) plays an important function in the repair of DNA damage that is a critical process of chemo-and radiotherapy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of ERCC1 expression in NPC treated with cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally advanced NPC. METHODS: The expression level of ERCC1 and its association with clinicopathological characteristics in 205 locoregionally advanced NPC patients receiving cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The correlation analysis revealed that the treatment-sensitive patients displayed dramatically lower ERCC1 expression than treatment-resistant cases did. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier plots revealed lower ERCC1 expression was significantly associated with better survival. Multivariate analysis further showed that the ERCC1 expression was an independent predictor of NPC patients' survival. CONCLUSIONS: ERCC1 expression might be a useful predictive marker in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC receiving cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy.