Prognostic significance of serum p53 protein and p53 antibody in patients with surgical treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims at investigating the prognostic values of serum p53 protein and anti-p53 antibody in patients undergoing surgical treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
Serum p53 protein and anti-p53 antibody concentrations were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 75 patients with HNSCC and 28 healthy controls. In 28 patients, formalin-fixed tumor tissues were also available for immunohistochemical staining by an anti-p53 DO7 monoclonal antibody. The results were correlated with the clinicopathologic parameters.


RESULTS
The mean preoperative serum concentration of p53 protein in patients with HNSCC was significantly higher than healthy controls (59.45 pg/mL vs 16.4 pg/mL, p =.007). Preoperative serum p53 antibody was present in 23 (31%) patients and was present in one healthy control. Eighteen (62%) tumor tissues showed p53 overexpression by immunohistochemistry. The presence of serum anti-p53 antibody before operation was associated with a significantly higher incidence (65%) of nodal metastasis compared with 27% nodal metastasis in patients with absence of serum anti-p53 antibody (p =.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative serum p53 antibody was a significant prognostic factor for nodal metastasis of HNSCC.
Chow
V
V
Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, SAR China.
Yuen
A P
AP
Lam
K Y
KY
Ho
W K
WK
Wei
W I
WI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53