Immunohistologic detection of nm23-H1 protein in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze nm23-H1 protein immunohistologically in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.


METHODS
In 68 carcinomas, tumor type, grade, inflammation and vascular space involvement were determined. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue was stained for nm23-H1. Staining pattern, intensity and percentage of stained tumor cells were evaluated. Staining results were analyzed statistically univariately by the chi2 test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test and receiver operator characteristic curves and multivariately by proportional hazard analysis.


RESULTS
Of the tumors, 9% were negative for nm23-H1. Positive tumors showed 4 staining patterns. Tumors with inhomogeneous expression of nm23-H1 tended to have shorter disease-free and overall survival. Carcinomas with nm23-H1 staining in <50% of the tumor cells more frequently developed nonlocal tumor recurrences (p= 0.018) and showed shorter disease-free survival (p = 0.017). Tumors with high nm23-H1 expression were associated with patients younger than 60 years (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Immunohistologic staining for nm23-H1 protein shows different staining patterns and percentages of stained cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Tumors with inhomogeneous and low nm23-H1 expression are associated with a worse prognosis.
Hantschmann
Peer
P
First Frauenklinik, Klinikum Innenstadt, Ludwig Maximilians University-Munich, Munich, FRG. phantsch@fk-i.med.uni-muenchen.de
Beysiegel
Sonja
S
Assemi
Cyamak
C
Kurzl
Rainer
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase