Do nasal polyps and inverted papilloma have similar disorders in cell cycle regulation?

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the expression of cell cycle regulation genes in patients with inverted papilloma (IP) and compare this with expression in patients with nasal polyps (NPs).

METHODS

Tissue from 18 patients with IP and 5 patients with NPs were stained by immunohistochemistry techniques for p53 and p27. Measurement of the gene expression was performed by three assessors, who we blinded with respect to the specimens.

RESULTS

The mean score for p53 expression (3.33) was significantly higher in the IP group than the NP group (1.46). The mean difference between IP and NPs was 1.80 (CI, 1.15-2.46; p = 0.003). Additionally, we showed in a number of individuals variation in the p53 expression within the same specimen. There was no difference in the mean scores for p27, with the mean difference 0.79 (CI, 0.30-1.89; p = 0.147).

CONCLUSION

Our study established a significantly increased expression of p53 in IP when compared with NPs. Additionally, there appear to be two different cell populations identified within the same specimens, which exhibited variation in their p53 expression.