P53 expression in squamous cell carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx and its lymph node metastases

Abstract

BACKGROUND.Although p53 overexpression is frequent in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), controversy remains regarding the prognostic significance of that overexpression. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression pattern and prognostic significance of p53 expression in HNSCC of the same location, treated in the same way, and with long‐term follow‐up.METHODS.P53 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in paraffin‐embedded tissue specimens from 107 consecutive patients (107 primary squamous cell carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx and 46 matched lymph node metastases). All patients underwent surgical resection and bilateral neck dissection.RESULTS.A strong correlation was observed between p53 expression in the primary tumor and in the matched lymph node metastases (P = .0001). P53 overexpression in the lymph nodes was an independent predictor of regional recurrence (P = .027). Likewise, expression of p53 in the lymph nodes correlated significantly with disease‐specific survival (P = .018). Five years after treatment, 70% of patients with p53‐negative, metastatic lymph nodes remained alive, whereas only 30% of patients with p53‐positive lymph nodes remained alive. In multivariate analysis, lymph node status and p53 expression in the lymph nodes remained associated with survival.CONCLUSIONS.The current data suggested that, although p53 overexpression is common in supraglottic carcinomas, its expression in the primary tumor is of limited clinical significance. However, the results supported the role of p53 in the lymph node metastases as an independent predictor of regional failure and a poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC. A prospective trial is indicated to validate these findings. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

Up‐regulation of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 is associated positively with cyclin D1 overexpression and poor clinical outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“…However, it is well known that the development of HNSCC is an evolutionary process and is characterized by multistep carcinogenic processes in which activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, including tumor protein 53 (TP53), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cyclin D1 (CCND1), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), are caused by genetic alterations and epigenetic modifications. [2][3][4][5] Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is the catalytic subunit of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), a highly conserved histone methyltransferase that methylates lysine-27 of histone H3 (H3-K27).…”

Folic Acid-Decorated Polyamidoamine Dendrimer Mediates Selective Uptake and High Expression of Genes in Head and Neck Cancer Cells

“…Although advances have been made in conventional therapy including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, their impact on improvement of 5-year mortality rate of patients with HNSCC is still minimal [2]. Increased understanding of molecular events involved in HNSCC initiation and progression has led to the development of gene therapy as a potential treatment option [3][4][5][6][7][8]. To realize gene therapy of HNSCC, it is essential to utilize safe and efficient vectors for delivery.…”

High CD10 expression in lymph node metastases from surgically treated prostate cancer independently predicts early death

“…The prognostic potential of biomarker expression in the different tumor components of lymph node positive cancer has been compared in only few tumors [19][20][21] including prostate cancers [22][23][24][25]. In case of successful survival stratification, the metastasizing tumor component but not the primary tumor [19,20,22] or both tumor components [21,23,25] may harbor the prognostic information.…”

“…In case of successful survival stratification, the metastasizing tumor component but not the primary tumor [19,20,22] or both tumor components [21,23,25] may harbor the prognostic information. In prostate cancer, CD10 expression in both tumor components, the primary cancers and the nodal metastases, predicts survival significantly.…”