Objectives: To establish the frequency of MYC amplification in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck to evaluate its correlation with clinicopathologic variables that are used in clinical practice.
Design: Cohort analytic study.
Setting: University Hospital.
Patients: Fifty-nine consecutive patients with SCC of the head and neck.
Intervention: Oncologic surgery.
Main outcome measures: The MYC copy number in tumor samples was estimated with the polymerase chain reaction. The presence or absence of amplification was correlated with the anatomic site, T stage, nodal involvement, pathologic grade, recurrence, distant metastases, and survival.
Results: Six SCC specimens (11%) showed MYC amplification. A highly statistical correlation between MYC amplification and T stage was noted (P < .005). Amplification was also significantly correlated with a hypopharyngeal primary site (P < .05). No correlation among amplification status, nodal involvement, pathologic grade, relapse, metastases, and survival was observed.
Conclusions: Amplification of MYC is associated with advanced primary tumors, and it appears to be a late event in the tumorigenesis of SCCS of the head and neck. However, there is no correlation between MYC amplification and prognosis.