title: Low levels of ras p21 oncogene expression correlates with clinical outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that the Ha-ras and the Ki-ras oncogenes are overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. In this study we have used the Y13-259 monoclonal antibody to p21 ras to determine if expression of the ras oncoprotein correlates with any of the clinico-pathological parameters or with survival in 69 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Forty-four specimens were from patients with previously untreated tumours and 25 from patients with previously treated disease. We have found a correlation between low levels of ras expression and the disease-free survival period in patients with previously untreated tumours. Three per cent of the patients with ras negative staining were alive 60 months after diagnosis, whereas 54 per cent of the patients with positive staining were still alive after the same time period (P less than 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yiagnisis
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spandidos
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gosney
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Stell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000502:physiology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras) / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras)