Prognostic significance of metallothionein, p53 protein and Ki-67 antigen expression in laryngeal cancer.
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.
Pastuszewski
Wojciech
W
N.Z.O.Z. Ziemo - Vita Medical Centre Ltd., Wroclaw, Poland.
Dziegiel
Piotr
P
Krecicki
Tomasz
T
Podhorska-Okolow
Marzena
M
Ciesielska
Urszula
U
Gorzynska
Elzbieta
E
Zabel
Maciej
M
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*
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D008668:Metallothionein