[Cutaneous squamocellular carcinoma--immunohistochemical aspects].

UNLABELLED: p53 gene is frequently founded mutated in nonmelanoma skin cancer like basocellular carcinoma, squamocellular carcinoma and equally in actinic keratosis and Bowen disease. Our objective was to evaluate the role of p53 protein and proliferative factor Ki-67 on skin squamocellular carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We investigated a number of 21 cases of cutaneous squamocellular carcinoma using immunohistochemical research for p53, proliferative factor Ki-67 (avidine-biotine-peroxidase method). RESULTS: The reaction for p53 was positive in 76.2% cases (16 of 21 cases), without semnificative statistical correlation with histologic differentions. Ki-67 values distribution was between 10% - 75%, with a mean value of 35%, with semnificative statistical correlation with histologic differentiations (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: p53 immunoreactivity was high in the majority of skin squamous cell carcinoma examined, probable related to an inactivated protein resulting from mutations of the p53 gene or other unclear molecular mechanisms. Diagnostic and prognostic role of p53 and Ki-67 level is difficult to establish in the light of recent results. This study suggests the utility of this tests, but low number of cases of study limit the statistical validity of conclusions.