Analysis of p53 antibody response in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
p53 alterations are the most common alteration found in human cancer. Protein p53 was studied in 102 patients with early lesions or advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Biopsies and sera samples were collected before the initiation of treatment. Protein p53 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using Pab 1801, Pab 240, DO7 and CM1 antibodies on paraffin-embedded sections. Antibodies specific for p53 protein were analysed in the sera of these patients by an ELISA procedure. We demonstrated that p53 protein overexpression (> or = 20% positive cells) was an early event in the carcinogenesis of SSCHN and correlated to the progression of carcinogenesis. Overexpression of protein p53 was frequent (56.5%) in advanced tumors. No correlation was found with clinical stage or the differentiation status of the tumor, but we demonstrated differences in protein p53 expression according to the initial localisation of the tumor, with high expression in hypopharynx (67%) and oropharynx (65%) versus larynx (12%). The prevalence of p53 antibodies was high (44%) and was correlated with the rate of p53 overexpression (> or = 30% positive cells) in tumors (p < 0.0001 chi square test). These results suggest that the humoral response is an indicator of the presence of squamous cell carcinoma with immunogenic mutant p53 protein. Therefore the detection of anti-p53 antibodies could be used as a precocuous marker of p53 alteration and a prognostic marker, in order to screen for patients with a better prognosis.
Lavieille
J P
JP
Clinique d'Otorhinolaryngologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France.
Lubin
R
R
Soussi
T
T
Reyt
E
E
Brambilla
C
C
Riva
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016158:Genes, p53; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53