title: Expression of p53 and its homolog, p73, in HPV DNA positive oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: Several studies have detected human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA in squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus (OSCC). In this study, we analysed OSCC specimens from 114 patients for the presence of HPV DNA, and p53 and p73 expression. HPV DNA was detected in 44.7% of cases, with the low risk HPV11 occurring most frequently. p53 and p73 expression was detected in 70% and 61.4% of cases, respectively. There was no correlation between expression of p53, p73 or HPV infection and tumour grade, or between p53 expression and the presence of HPV DNA. There was, however, significant correlation between p73 expression and the presence of HPV DNA (p<0.01) and p53 and p73 co-expression (p<0.001), as well as co-expression of p53 and p73 with HPV status (p<0.05). These data support previous studies suggesting a role for HPV infection in OSCC and also indicate that HPV infection and p53 and p73 overexpression are not mutually exclusive. In addition, the data implicate a role for p73 in OSCC and suggest a complex interaction between p53, p73 and HPV in the aetiology of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, South Africa.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsha
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Donninger
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Erasmus
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stepien
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C000606460:TP73 protein, human; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins