p62/SQSTM1 levels predicts radiotherapy resistance in hypopharyngeal carcinomas.

Hypopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the worst prognostic malignancies among head and neck carcinomas. Therefore, a good biomarker should be identified to predict the best therapeutic option before starting the treatment. In cell models, p62/SQSTM1 levels affected the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, ROS levels, GSH/GSSG ratios and cell growth, especially under irradiation rather than under CDDP exposure, which was toxic despite p62/SQSTM1 status. In a clinical cohort of hypopharyngeal carcinomas, high levels of p62/SQSTM1 significantly predicted poor prognosis (log-rank test, Chi-square value = 6.750,