title: Molecular findings of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a European population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore biomolecular characteristics of a group of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma from European (Spanish) hospitals, addressing the pathogenesis of the tumor and the response to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cyclin D1 and p16 expression were evaluated immunohistochemically in 33 tissue samples of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CCDN1 gene amplification and p16 gene deletion were studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Patient clinical data were examined, and tissues were evaluated histologically using hematoxylin-eosin staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cyclin D1 overexpression was found in 19 cases, and p16 expression was undetected in 30 cases. An association was observed between impaired p16 expression and cyclin D1 overexpression (p = 0.034). Eleven patients displayed p16 gene deletion and CCDN1 gene amplification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyclin D1 overexpression and CCDN1 amplification, loss of p16 expression and p16 deletion may be among the genetic alterations involved in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Pathology Service, Infanta Margarita Hospital, Cabra, Spain.
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: González Serrano
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ríos Moreno
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Miguel Rodríguez
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casco
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galera-Ruiz
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vargas de los Monteros
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Trigo Sánchez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González-Cámpora
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galera-Davidson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: C530104:CCND1 protein, human; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D019938:Cyclin D1