Fas expression is associated with a better prognosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The role of apoptosis, and more specifically the Fas pathway, is still unclear in squamous cell laryngeal cancer.


METHODS
By means of immunohistochemistry, the expression of three genes involved in different pathways of apoptosis (p53, Bcl-2 and Fas) was studied in a series of 45 squamous cell laryngeal cancers from Spanish patients.


RESULTS
Of the studied tumors, 25 (55.6%) expressed mutant p53, 22 (48.9%) expressed Bcl-2 and 25 (55.6%) expressed Fas. p53, Bcl-2 and Fas expression were not correlated with each other. The only tested factors associated with significantly better survival of the patients were low tumor stage (p = 0.0074), the absence of metastatic regional nodes (p = 0.0009) and Fas expression (p = 0.029). Fas expression was not correlated with the expression of any other tested parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
The determination of Fas expression in squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma by means of immunohistochemistry using the GM30/CD95 antibody could be of potential use in the clinic.
Asensio
Carlos
C
Hospital Nuestra Sra. Del Prado, Talavera de la Reina, Madrid, Spain.
Zapata
Ana
A
García-Ahijado
Jesús
J
Gil
Braulio
B
Salvadores
Paloma
P
Schneider
José
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019014:fas Receptor