Onkologie. 2026:20(3):169-175 | DOI: 10.36290/xon.2026.031

Immunohistochemical expression of DNA repair proteins and its association with treatment outcomes in laryngeal carcinoma

Zdeňka Pechačová1, Radka Lohynská2, Zuzana ©půrková3, Vratislav ©edivec4, Marián ©vajdler4, Tereza Drbohlavová1, Petra Tesařová1, Miloslav Pála1
1 Ústav radiační onkologie, 1. LF UK a FN Bulovka, Praha
2 Onkologická klinika, 1. LF UK a FTN, Praha
3 Patologicko-anatomické oddělení, FN Bulovka, Praha
4 Bioptická laboratoř, s. r. o., Plzeň

Background: Radiotherapy represents a key treatment modality for laryngeal carcinoma. Proteins involved in DNA repair may influence tumour radiosensitivity as well as treatment outcomes and radiation-related toxicity.

Patients and Methods: In 108 patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated with (chemo)radiotherapy, immunohistochemical expression of DNA repair proteins was assessed in pretreatment biopsy specimens and correlated with treatment outcomes.

Results: Higher MRE11 expression was associated with early clinical stage (I-II) (p < 0.001), improved overall survival (p < 0.001), and longer progression-free survival (p = 0.025). Expression of Ku80 (p < 0.001) and ATM (p = 0.008) was also significantly associated with longer overall survival. Positivity of MRE11 and/or ATM (at least one of them) correlated with improved survival (p < 0.001), negativity of both proteins was linked to the shortest overall survival. Protein expression was not associated with radiation-related toxicity.

Conclusion: In our patient cohort, higher immunohistochemical expression of MRE11, ATM, and Ku80 was associated with improved treatment outcomes. These findings support the potential relevance of these proteins as predictors of treatment response. Further research focusing on clinical context and molecular characteristics of the tumour microenvironment is required.

Keywords: MRE11 homolog, ATM protein, laryngeal cancer, radiotherapy, biomarker, treatment effectiveness.

Accepted: June 15, 2026; Published: July 1, 2026  Show citation

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Pechačová Z, Lohynská R, ©půrková Z, ©edivec V, ©vajdler M, Drbohlavová T, et al.. Immunohistochemical expression of DNA repair proteins and its association with treatment outcomes in laryngeal carcinoma. Onkologie. 2026;20(3):169-175. doi: 10.36290/xon.2026.031.
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