title: Influence of p53 and bcl-2 on proliferative activity and treatment outcome in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: Knowledge about the influence of biomarkers on cell proliferative activity might explain differences in radiosensitivity between head and neck tumors and might improve patient selection for the most optimal treatment strategy. p53 and bcl-2 protein expression were determined immunohistochemically in 56 head and neck cancer patients, treated by surgery only in five cases and by radiotherapy, with or without surgery, in 51 cases. Relationships with various cell proliferation markers, determined by flow-cytometry (G1-phase fraction, S-phase fraction, BrdUrd-labeling index, duration of S-phase and potential doubling time) were investigated. Associations between these cell proliferation parameters, on the one hand, and both p53 and bcl-2, on the other, were not found. Furthermore, p53 and bcl-2 expression were both not related to clinicopathological parameters (T- and N-stage, site, grade) and did not affect loco-regional recurrence-free survival and/or disease-free survival. We could not find a prognostic value for both p53 and bcl-2 protein expression to differentiate radiosensitive from radioresistant head and neck tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Dijkema
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Struikmans
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Dullens
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kal
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Tweel
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Battermann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53