The relation between hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha expression with p53 expression and outcome in surgically treated supraglottic laryngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine whether a relationship exists between HIF-1alpha expression and the pro-apoptotic protein p53 in supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), which could provide information concerning patient prognosis.


METHODS
The study population was composed of 106 previously untreated men with SCC of the supraglottic larynx. All the patients underwent surgical resection of the tumor and bilateral neck dissection. Immunohistochemical analysis of HIF-1alpha and p53 protein expression was performed in relation with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis.


RESULTS
HIF-1alpha nuclear expression was detected in 71% of primary carcinomas and 55% of the paired lymph node metastases. There was a significant positive correlation between HIF-1alpha and T-classification but no associations were observed with other clinicopathological variables and with prognosis. There was no correlation between the expression of HIF-1alpha and p53. HIF-1alpha overexpression in combination with p53 immunostaining was not associated with disease recurrence or survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that HIF-1alpha expression does not have a prognostic value in surgically treated supraglottic laryngeal SCC, and that immunohistochemical determination of p53 does not allow improving the clinical significance of HIF-1alpha.
Cabanillas
R
R
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Rodrigo
J P
JP
Secades
P
P
Astudillo
A
A
Nieto
C S
CS
Chiara
M D
MD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005931:Glottis; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53