BRCA1 expression in leukoplakia and carcinoma of the tongue.
OBJECTIVE
Expression of BRCA1 was examined in patients with leukoplakia and carcinoma of the tongue. Its prognostic value was evaluated in patients with tongue cancer.


METHODS
Expression of BRCA1 was studied by immunohistochemical localization. Cytoplasmic staining of BRCA1 was observed in both leukoplakia and carcinoma of the tongue.


RESULTS
In leukoplakia, 61% and 39% of the patients expressed BRCA1 expression with a staining intensity of 1+ and 2+, respectively. In patients with hyperplasia (67%), BRCA1 expression with a staining intensity of 1+ was 67%; BRCA1 expression with a staining intensity of 2+ was 33%. In patients with dysplasia (33%; mild and moderate), BRCA1 expression with a staining intensity of 1+ and 2+ was 50% each. In carcinoma of the tongue, only 34% of the patients showed BRCA1 expression. In this group, 33% of the tumors exhibited 1+ staining, and only 1% of the tumors expressed 2+ staining. Moreover, BRCA1 expression with a staining intensity of 2+ was significantly higher in patients with dysplasia (50%) than in those with hyperplasia (33%), followed by patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (1%). The percentage positivity of BRCA1 expression in tongue cancer patients was significantly lower (34%), as compared with patients with leukoplakia (100%; P = 0.000001). A significant positive correlation was noted between BRCA1 and c-myc (P = 0.012). Univariate survival analysis by log-rank test and multivariate survival analysis by Cox regression showed that BRCA1 expression was the most significant prognostic factor predicting relapse-free survival of early-stage patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Subcellular localization of the BRCA1 gene product provided evidence of its involvement in the pathogenesis of tongue tumors.
Vora
Hemangini H
HH
Division of Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Cancer Biology, Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, NCH Compound, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, India.
Shah
Neelam G
NG
Patel
Devendra D
DD
Trivedi
Trupti I
TI
Choksi
Tejal J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007971:Leukoplakia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger