P53 protein expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma. survival analysis.

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to analyze the pattern of p53 expression and its influence on survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An immunohistochemical technique with BP53-12 antibody was performed on stored tissue from 78 patients with OSCC (intraoral cancer n=40; lip cancer n=38). The nuclear and cytoplasmic extension of p53 staining was assessed. Clinical and histopathological data were gathered and the patient survival was analyzed.

RESULTS

57.7% (n=45) of the OSCCs expressed p53, with nuclear expression in 52.6% (n=41) of cases and cytoplasmic expression in 24.4% (n=19). The OSCCs with extensive nuclear expression of p53 showed dissociated patterns of invasion of adjacent tissues (p<0.05). A greater extension of cytoplasmic expression of p53 most commonly appeared in tumors that were better-differentiated (p<0.005), more keratinized (p<0.01) and with less nuclear atypia (p<0.05). The parameters that significantly influenced survival of patients were tumor localization (p<0.01), size (p<0.0001), lymph node invasion (p<0.0001), clinical stage (p<0.0001), differentiation degree (p<0.01) and nucleargrade (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The expression of p53 protein did not behave as a marker of prognostic value in patients with OSCC.