title: High rate of p53 overexpression in head and neck carcinomas detected with a refined ELISA.
abstract: p53 mutations are amongst the most prevalent alterations in human cancer. Overexpression of p53 is usually caused by mutation and is observed in a high percentage of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). Fifty two fresh samples of SCCHN were examined for p53 overexpression and 23 tumor-free tonsils served as controls. Using the monoclonal antibody Pab 1801 a refined ELISA technique was employed. In contrast to established ELISA procedures tumor tissue was pulverized at -80 degrees C prior to the actual ELISA (ELISA I). Comparative p53 detection was carried out by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and a commercially available ELISA kit (ELISA II). The modified ELISA I revealed p53 overexpression in 48 tumor samples (92%). p53 detection was obtained in 26 cases (50%) with ELISA II and with IHC 39 stained positive for p53 (75%). All of the controls were negative for p53 with ELISA and IHC. The p53 staining in IHC showed a significant correlation with the grading of the tumor. The ELISA results of the p53 overexpression did not show any correlation with tumor size or stage and rate of metastasis or other clinical parameters. This ELISA represents a more sensitive detection method of p53 than any other technique so far. It improves on former ELISA and IHC results on p53 overexpression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and underlines the involvement and the importance of the p53 tumor suppressor protein in carcinogenesis of head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Maass
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gottschlich
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goeroegh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bruhn
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53