Immunohistochemical analysis of BRCA1 and acetyl-histone H3 in squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunoexpression profiles of breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and acetyl-histone H3 (AcH3) in squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue (SCC-MT) and their correlation with epidemiologic data and the histopathological grade of tumors.

STUDY

DESIGN

Incisional biopsies of 43 SCC-MT were submitted to immunohistochemistry for AcH3 and BRCA1. Samples were microscopically graded as well differentiated (n = 21) or poorly differentiated (n = 22). Both groups were submitted to statistical analysis (P < .05) regarding the percentage of positive cells.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine cases were positive for AcH3 (91%), but no difference was observed for the histologic grading (P = .27). Positivity for BRCA1 was observed in all samples regardless of their cellular locations. Most cases in the poorly differentiated group presented with less than 10% nuclear staining (P < .01) and a predominance of cytoplasmic staining (P = .034). The well-differentiated group showed nuclear staining in most of the cases, with more than 50% of cells staining positive (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

AcH3 and BRCA1 were expressed in all samples. There was a significant decrease in cytoplasmic BRCA1 expression in the poorly differentiated group, suggesting BRCA1 as a possible prognostic marker for SCC-MT.