Relation between p53 overexpression and clinical behavior of ocular/orbital invasion of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the p53 gene as a prognostic indicator in conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Medical records were reviewed and histopathology slides were examined to verify the diagnosis and grade of tumor differentiation in a retrospective case series of 12 patients with "invasive" and 11 patients with "noninvasive" conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. The p53 antigen was detected using the streptavidin biotin-alkaline phosphatase immunostaining method. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test.


RESULTS
p53 overexpression was present in 14 cases (approximately 60%). Eight and 6 of 14 p53-positive tumors were invasive and noninvasive, respectively. All patients with recurrence (two), recurrence and metastasis (two), metastasis (three), and death with tumor dissemination (three) had p53 overexpression. Of all adverse outcomes, only two cases with recurrence were p53 negative: no metastasis or death with dissemination was seen in p53-negative tumor cases.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no statistical relationship between p53 overexpression and age, sex, location, invasiveness, or histopathologic differentiation of the tumor; however, a significant association existed between p53 positivity and adverse clinical behavior (p = 0.014).
Karcioglu
Z A
ZA
King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. zkarcio@tulane.edu
Toth
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D011379:Prognosis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53