The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Genetic analysis of surgical margins in oral cavity cancer. BJS 2018; 105: e142-e149.

Published: 17th January 2018

Authors: S. A. Liu, C. C. Wang, R. S. Jiang, W. Y. Wang, J. C. Lin

Background

A histological, tumour‐free surgical margin does not guarantee recurrence‐free survival in patients with cancer. This study investigated the association between microsatellite alteration in tumour‐free surgical margins and local recurrence in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Method

Patients with histologically confirmed oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in this prospective study. Cancerous specimens, corresponding surgical margins and peripheral blood were obtained. Microsatellite alteration was investigated using six dinucleotide microsatellite markers. All samples were amplified by PCR, followed by automatic fragment analysis.

Results

Microsatellite alteration was identified in 100 specimens (69·0 per cent) from 145 patients. Among them, 85 specimens carried loss of heterozygosity, whereas 55 had microsatellite instability (MSI). Patients with MSI at the surgical margin had a higher risk of local recurrence on multivariable analysis (odds ratio 7·17, 95 per cent c.i. 3·49 to 14·73).

Conclusion

Molecular assessment of surgical margins can help identify patients at risk of local recurrence.

Full text