title: Evaluation of p53 protein as a prognostic factor for oral cancer surgery.
abstract: We have analysed concentrations of the p53 protein in advanced oral carcinomas immunohistochemically and genetically to detect the percentage of overexpression of this antioncogene that indicates a high probability of mutation. This would point to it being a useful prognostic factor, if we consider the importance of the relation between genetic alterations of p53 and poor overall survival. Seventy-five non-consecutive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic nodes were enrolled if there was homogeneity in histopathological grading (G2) of their tumours, and they were treated according to a multidisciplinary treatment plan. Monoclonal antibodies, extraction of DNA, and amplification of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for the immunohistochemical and genetic analyses. There was a significant inverse correlation between p53 overexpression and response to chemotherapy and a stronger association between high P53 overexpression (%) and a genetic mutation of p53 (p=0.0001). More than 50% overexpression indicated a strong probability of genetic mutation. There was no association between response to chemotherapy and age-groups or TNM classification (p=0.2), but there was a significant one between sex and site of tumour (p<0.001). Three prognostic factors were significantly related to prognosis: site of tumour (p=0.01), response to chemotherapy (p=0.002), and immuno p53 (p=0.0001). A tumour that is characterised by p53 overexpression of more than 50% indicates a poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, University of L'Aquila, Italy. Electronic address: tommaso.cutilli@cc.univaq.it.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cutilli
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leocata
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dolo
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Altobelli
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: Multimodal treatment; Oral cancer; Surgery; p53 Status