Prognostic evaluation of p53, heat shock protein 70, Ki67, and CD34 expression in cancer of the tongue in Tunisia.
OBJECTIVE
Oral tongue cancer remains an aggressive tumour in Tunisia, and patients often present with locally advanced disease, leading to high mortality. The molecular pathway of its tumorigenesis is not yet understood. This study aimed to assess the biologic significance of p53, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), Ki67, and CD34 and their influence on survival in patients with tongue cancer.


METHODS
Archival tissues from 68 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue were examined for p53, Hsp70, Ki67, and CD34 by immunohistochemistry and correlated with 5-year survival.


RESULTS
p53 and Ki-67 were detected in 55% and 77% of tumours, respectively; a significant association between p53 and Ki67 expression was found (p = .038). Forty-seven percent of cases of tongue cancer expressed Hsp70, and only 9% of tumours expressed CD34 angiogenic factor. No significant correlation was noted between survival and expression of p53, Hsp70, Ki67, and CD34 in patients.


CONCLUSIONS
None of the markers p53, Hsp70, Ki67, and CD34 demonstrated prognostic significance for 5-year survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
Department of Immunohistocytology, Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
Asma
A
Fourati
Michèle Véronique
MV
El May
Mansour
M
Ben Abdallah
Amor
A
Gamoudi
Nahla
N
Mokni
Aïda
A
Goucha
Hamouda
H
Boussen
Abderrahman
A
Ladgham
Ahmed
A
El May
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen