title: Cell cycle proteins in laryngeal cancer: role in proliferation and prognosis.
abstract: A study of laryngeal carcinomas was performed in order to analyze (a) the expression of p53/p21, cyclin D1/cyclin E, p21/p27 (b) the relation of normal and abnormal protein expression, with the proliferation status, as determined by the expression of Ki67 and PCNA and (c) the correlation of our findings with prognosis. We performed a retrospective analysis of 57 cases of squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx. We applied monoclonal antibodies against p53, p21, p27, cyclin D1, cyclin E, Ki67 and PCNA, using streptavidin-biotin method. Analysis of the p53/p21 proteins, revealed abnormalities in 25/37 cases (67.57%), while 12/37 (32.43%) cases displayed normal phenotype (p53-/p21-). Analysis of cyclins revealed overexpression in 17/48 cases (35.42), while the majority 31/48(64.58%) displayed normal phenotype (cyclin D1-/cyclin E-). Concerning CDKIs expression, the majority 30/50(60%) presented high levels of both inhibitors (p21+/p27+). Cases with simultaneous overexpression of CDKIs demonstrated significantly higher levels of Ki67 protein (p = 0.05). Analysis of p53/p21, cyclin D/cyclin E, p21/p27 patterns showed no association between the presence of one or two alterations and prognosis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that p53 tumor suppressor pathway is frequently disrupted in laryngeal cancer. Furthermore, levels of CDKIs, although they act as cell cycle activity blockers, are not reliable markers for the estimation of laryngeal neoplastic cells growth fraction.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peschos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stefanou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vougiouklakis
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Assimakopoulos
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Agnantis
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D016213:Cyclins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases