RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cell proliferation and differentiation are regulated by growth factors and growth factor receptors. Inappropriate expressions of growth factors and oncogenes may influence the biological and clinical phenotype of tumor. But there are still controversy regarding their clinical attributions in head and neck cancer. The authors evaluated the prognostic significance of p53 protein, EGF and c-erbB-2 expression in the squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck to determine their relationship with the clinicopathologic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin embedded tissue specimen from 64 cases of squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck were studied by immunohistochemical staining. RESULT: p53 protein, EGF and c-erbB-2 were expressed 53.1%, 29.7% and 57.8%, respectively, in 64 cases of head and neck cancer. The positive expression of p53 protein was associated closely with T-stage and clinical stage. This expression was statistically significant(P<0.05). There were no significant relationships between the reactivity of EGF, c-erbB-2 and clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: The expressions of p53 protein, EGF and c-erbB-2 could be related to oncogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. And, the expression of p53 protein can be used as a prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.