Prognostic significance of P53 histochemistry and DNA histogram parameters in head and neck malignancies.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to determine the role of quantitative pathological parameters in prognosis of head and neck malignancies.


METHODS
51 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients were examined for mutant p53 gene expression (45 out of 51 patients) by immunohistochemistry and for cellular DNA-content (44 out of 51 patients) using digital picture analyzer. Statistical analysis was performed using BMDP package.


RESULTS
No correlation with prognosis was found for age, sex, localization, T-classification and therapy. There was significant relationship between N-status and overall survival (p = 0.0008). No correlation was found with overall and disease-free survival for either histologic type or grading. P53: No significant correlation was detected with overall survival. A relationship was found between mutant p53 and metastasis-free time (p = 0.06). Ploidy: There were no significant differences between aneuploid and euploid tumors for either disease-free or overall survival. Synthetic (S)-phase fraction: A correlation was found for both survival rates (p = 0.029) and metastasis-free time (p = 0.05). Polyploid fraction (PF): correlation was shown for both overall survival (p = 0.0128) and metastasis-free time (p = 0.0038).


CONCLUSIONS
There is correlation between p53 overexpression and metastatic potential and there is a significant relationship between SPF and PF value and prognosis (metastasis-free and overall survival) of head and neck cancer.
Tamás
L
L
Department of ENT, Jahn Ference Teaching Hospital, Semmelweis University of Medicine Affiliate, Köves u. 2-4., Budapest 1204, Hungary. talaci@elender.hu
Kraxner
H
H
Mechtler
L
L
Répássy
G
G
Ribári
O
O
Hirschberg
A
A
Szentkúti
G
G
Járay
B
B
Szentirmay
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000782:Aneuploidy; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016158:Genes, p53; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D011123:Polyploidy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016196:S Phase; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53