Mutant p53 and cyclin A1 protein expression in primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas do not correlate to second primary tumours of the head and neck*

Abstract

Field cancerization is a feature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. No biological marker in the index tumour has been correlated to the development of second primary tumours (SPT). Cyclin A1 is a cell cycle regulator and a downstream target of p53. This study assessed predictive correlation of cyclin A1 and mut-p53 with clinicopathological parameters and occurrence of (SPT) in the head and neck. Using immunohistochemistry 106 patients treated for primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were investigated for expression of cyclin A1 and mut-p53. Expression of cyclin A1 and mut-p53 were noted in 83 of 106 (78.3%) and 25 of 106 (23.6%) patients. There was a weak but significant correlation between mut-p53 and cyclin A1 (r = 0.301, P = 0.002) expression. During the follow-up period (median 41.0 months (range 1-205 months)), 21 of 106 (19.8%) patients developed an SPT. There was no statistically significant correlation between the markers investigated and disease recurrence, SPT diagnosis or clinicopathological parameters. Second primary tumours are an intriguing problem in treatment of HNSCC and a predictive marker identifying those greatest at risk would be a leap forward.