title: Prognostic significance of metallothionein, p53 protein and Ki-67 antigen expression in laryngeal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed at the evaluation of the expression of metallothionein (MT) in laryngeal carcinoma and its correlation with the expression of Ki-67 antigen and p53 protein and selected clinical and pathological variables in view of their potential prognostic significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five laryngeal cancer patients were retrospectively analysed. Expression of MT, Ki-67 and p53 in tumour tissue samples were assessed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In laryngeal cancer a significantly augmented expression of MT, Ki-67 and p53 was noted, as compared to the control group (p < 0.001) and a significantly increased expression of MT in low malignancy tumours (G1) as compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The expression of Ki-67 antigen was positively correlated with the expression of p53 protein (r = 0.477; p < 0.05) and expression of either marker was positively correlated with malignancy grade (r = 0.47, p < 0.05; r = 0.31, p < 0.05; for Ki-67 and p53, respectively). Shortened survival was noted in patients with high expression of Ki-67 antigen and p53 protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intensity of MT expression was not related to prognosis in laryngeal cancer. Nevertheless, it may provide a significant index indicating the malignant transformation of benign lesions of laryngeal epithelium.
authors.affiliation: N.Z.O.Z. Ziemo - Vita Medical Centre Ltd., Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pastuszewski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dziegiel
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krecicki
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podhorska-Okolow
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ciesielska
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorzynska
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zabel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D008668:Metallothionein