Prognostic value of expression of p53, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and c-erbB-2 in laryngeal carcinoma

Background: The molecular mechanisms in malignant transformation of laryngeal mucosa are unknown; many clinical and pathological factors affect prognosis. We investigated a possible correlation between overexpression of p53, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and c-erbB-2, and the clinicopathologic features of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and clarify their prognostic value. Material/Methods: Thirty-three men with laryngeal SCC participated; all underwent primary surgery or surgery plus radiotherapy between 1999 and 2004 at our department. Paraffin sections of laryngeal SCC were iminunohistochemically stained for p53, PCNA, and c-erbB-2. Results: Overall, p53 overexpression was found in 16 patients. There was no relation between p53 immuno-histochemical staining and tumor region. PCNA immunostaining was significantly stronger in supra-glottic tumors compared with glottic tumors. Immunostaining of c-erbB-2was not different in either location. There was no relation between the T stage of the tumor and p53 and c-erbB-2 immunostaining. However, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the PCNA staining and T stage (stronger staining was present in T3 and T4 stages than in T1 and T2 stages). Conclusions: We could not find a statistically significant correlation between p53, PCNA, and c-erbB-2 and lymph node status, histologic differentiation, and survival rate. We demonstrated only a statistically significant positive correlation between PCNA staining and T stage. These data suggest that overexpression of p53, PCNA, and c-erbB-2 is not prognostic in laryngeal SCC.