title: Predictive value of p53 and PCNA expression for occult neck metastases in patients with clinically node-negative oral tongue cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In an attempt to identify molecular markers predictive of occult neck metastases, we investigated whether positive p53 or proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivities on deparaffinized sections of the primary tumor are correlated to the presence of occult neck node metastases in oral tongue cancer patients with clinically negative cervical nodes (N0).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1986 and 1997, 37 clinically N0 patients who underwent neck dissection (25 male, 12 female; mean age 54 years) were selected for p53 and PCNA staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  p53 and PCNA immunoreactivities were detected in 68% and 32%, respectively. There was no correlation between p53 or PCNA and other clinicopathological factors, such as tumor differentiation, tumor type, tumor size, and T-stage. Although tumor differentiation (P=0.03) and tumor size (P=0.03) were significantly correlated with occult neck metastases of oral tongue cancer by univariate analysis, no correlation was found between p53 or PCNA and the presence of occult neck metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  p53 and/or PCNA expression are unsuitable as biological markers predictive of lymph node metastases of oral tongue cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  p53- or PCNA-positive status are not a reliable parameter for selection of elective neck dissection in the management of N0 oral tongue cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, and National Health Insurance Cooperation, Ilsan Hospital, Kyonggi, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Chang
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Keum
authors.forename: Eun Ji
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Woong Sub
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Koom
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Eun Chang
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chang Geol
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Ok
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Gwi Eon
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53