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Abstract
Expression of the tumour suppressor gene p53 was examined in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck using two p53 antibodies, PAb 421 and PAb 1801. Elevated p53 expression was found in 67% of the 73 patients investigated. P53 expression was not found to correlate with whether the patient had been previously treated or not, nor any of the clinico-pathological parameters. However a correlation was found between the patients smoking history and positive p53 staining. Six out of seven non-smokers did not express p53 whereas 29 of 37 heavy smokers were found to have elevated p53 expression (P less than 0.005). Also, of a group of ten patients who had given up smoking more than 5 years ago, nine had elevated expression. Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between heavy smoking and head and neck cancer. The present study indicate a genetic link for this correlation.
Highlights
In this study we have investigated the levels of p53 expression in 73 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas using highly specific antibodies to p53, and we have correlated the results with the already known clinical and pathological prognostic factors, as well as the patients' smoking history
Seventy-three tumour specimens were collected from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 38 patients were previously untreated whereas 35 had previous treatment
Seventy-three head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were investigated for elevated levels of p53 gene expression, 67% of the squamous cell carcinomas showed positive staining; 16% of these had intense staining whereas 51 % showed moderate staining
Summary
Seventy-three tumour specimens were collected from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (treated at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology by PMS), 38 patients were previously untreated whereas 35 had previous treatment. The tissue sections were fixed in formalin and embedded in parffin wax. Serial sections of 5 Lm thickness were cut and processed for immunocytochemistry. The following clinical and pathological data were available: TNM staging using the UICC convention (UICC 1987), site of tumour, details of previous treatment, histopathological differentiation, the pathology of lymph node metastases and follow up. The smoking pattern was classified as non-smokers, moderate smokers (under 20 cigarettes per day) or heavy smokers (over 20 cigarettes per day) or equivalent quantities of pipe tobacco. Patients who had stopped smoking more than 5 years ago were considered separately
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