Function and importance of p63 in normal oral mucosa and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is the 6th most common malignancy worldwide with a 5-year survival that has not improved over the last 20-25 years. Factors of prognostic significance for this tumour type include the presence of regional lymph node metastasis and amplification of chromosome 3q21-29, where the p63 gene is located. This gene encodes 6 proteins and is crucial for formation of the oral mucosa, teeth, salivary glands and skin. Each of the 6 different p63 proteins has different characteristics and functions, where some resemble the tumour suppressor protein p53, whilst others have functions that oppose p53.


METHODS
To understand the function and importance of p63 in oral mucosa and tumour development we have studied protein as well as mRNA expression in normal oral mucosa and tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of p63 proteins differs between the cell layers in normal oral mucosa, and primary HNSCC has a high expression level of p63 isoforms normally expressed in basal cells. Data suggest that p63 expression in HNSCC influences tumour cell differentiation.
Thurfjell
Niklas
N
Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, Sweden.
Coates
Philip J
PJ
Boldrup
Linda
L
Lindgren
Britta
B
Bäcklund
Bodil
B
Uusitalo
Tony
T
Mahani
David
D
Dabelsteen
Erik
E
Dahlqvist
Ake
A
Sjöström
Björn
B
Roos
Göran
G
Vojtesek
Borek
B
Nenutil
Rudolf
R
Nylander
Karin
K
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53