Nerve growth factor receptor (p75NTR) and pattern of invasion predict poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Aims: To evaluate the expression of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The results were related to tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, invasive front grading (IFG) and prognosis. Methods and results: Immunohistochemically, the expression of p75NTR was assessed in 53 T1‐T2 OSCCs. Clinical data were recorded prospectively. The end‐point was disease‐free survival. All tumours expressed p75NTR, and this expression, both in central/superficial tumour areas and at the invasive front, was associated with poor prognosis (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02) (log rank test). Tumours with marked cellular dissociation (IFG parameter) had more recurrences than tumours with collective tumour cell invasion (P = 0.03). In tumours showing both p75NTR at the invasive front and marked tumour cell dissociation, the average risk of recurrence was increased about 17 times (Cox regression analysis) compared with tumours with low p75NTR expression and collective invasion. Traditional prognostic systems were of no prognostic significance. Conclusion: p75NTR was expressed in all OSCCs. p75NTR expression and the pattern of invasion were significantly associated with a poor prognosis in OSCCs, and both were better prognostic factors than traditional prognostic parameters. The combination of p75NTR expression and the pattern of invasion strongly increased precision in the identification of tumours with poor disease‐free survival.