Correlation between p53 gene expression and tumor-cell proliferation in oropharyngeal cancer.
The aim of our study was to analyze the correlation between tumor-cell kinetics measured in vivo and p53 gene expression in a series of 49 oropharyngeal cancers. The duration of the S phase (TS), the labelling index (LI) and the potential doubling time (Tpot) were obtained by flow-cytometry measurements of a tumor biopsy obtained after i.v. injection of 200 mg bromodeoxyuridine into patients. An adjacent section of the same samples was studied by immunohistochemistry for the detection of p53 protein. Over-expression of the p53 protein, as defined by strong p53 immunostaining of tumor nuclei, was found in 23/49 of the samples. Aneuploid tumors showed a higher LI, a shorter Tpot and a higher proportion of p53 gene over-expression. A significant correlation was seen between p53 over-expression and short Tpots. Indeed 87.5% of the tumors with a very short Tpot (< or = 3 days) had p53 over-expression, as compared with 27% of tumors with a longer Tpot (> 3 days). Our data strongly suggest that over-expression of the p53 gene is associated with rapid tumor-cell proliferation in this type of cancer.
Bourhis
J
J
Department of Radiation Oncology, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Bosq
J
J
Wilson
G D
GD
Bressac
B
B
Talbot
M
M
Leridant
A M
AM
Dendale
R
R
Janin
N
N
Armand
J P
JP
Luboinski
B
B
D000368:Aged; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016196:S Phase / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine