Detection of p53 protein in oropharyngeal carcinoma. Prognostic implications.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate how the detection of p53 protein in formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded oropharyngeal carcinoma may be used as a factor in estimating prognosis.


METHODS
University medical centers.


METHODS
Validation cohort. Formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx tissues from 106 patients who underwent surgical therapy between 1975 and 1988 were immunostained by using M-7001 antibody (IgG class).


RESULTS
Overexpression of p53 was observed in 46 tumors (43.4%). The detection of nuclear p53 was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence of oropharyngeal carcinoma (P = .05). Similar results were obtained when the presence or absence of p53 in the nuclei of the tumor cells was studied in relation to overall survival (P < .001). In a multivariate analysis stratified according to grade, pathological stage, and lymph node status, nuclear p53 status was an independent predictor of overall survival (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, an accumulation of p53 in the tumor cell nuclei detected by immunohistochemical methods predicts a significantly increased risk of death, independent of tumor grade, stage, and lymph node status. The p53 overexpression appears to be a useful prognostic factor.
Caminero
M J
MJ
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Central de Asturias (Oviedo), Spain.
Núñez
F
F
Suárez
C
C
Ablanedo
P
P
Riera
J R
JR
Dominguez
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53