Predictive value of ALDH1 and CD44 positivity for radiotherapy response and prognosis in early-stage glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate of the predictive value of CD44 and ALDH1 expression for prognosis and radiotherapy(RT) response in patients with early-stage laryngeal cancer receiving RT. Materials and Methods: Forty-four patients with early-stage laryngeal cancer were included in the study. Based on retrospective chart review, the patients were divided into those with local recurrence and those without recurrence after RT. Correlation between RT response and pre-treatment immunohistochemical ALDH1 and CD44 staining was evaluated. In addition, survival times were compared between groups. Results: The mean age was found 59.8±9.0 years and 41 were male. There were 20 patients in the non-recurrent group. Immunohistochemical positivity for ALDH1 was found to be significant risk factor for RT failure (p=0.0001), whereas CD44 positivity (p=0.114) were not significant. Disease-free survival was shorter in cases with positive ALDH1 and CD44 staining (p=0.0001). Conclusion: ALDH1 positivity was identified as a significant predictor of DFS and RT sensitivity.