Relationship between the Expression of Ku70/80, p53, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Cyclooxygenase-2 and Prognosis in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tonsil / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to find out if Ku70/80, p53, EGFR and COX-2 expressions are associated with prognostic variables and to examine the survival rate in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From October 1991 to April 2006, 52 cases of paraffin-embedded tonsillar specimens were obtained by surgical resection in the Asan Medical Center. All tissue samples were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for Ku70/80, p53, EGFR and COX-2. Clinical factors such as age, treatment modality, TNM stage were evaluated nad detailed analyses were performed regarding the relationship between the expression of molecular markers, overall survival and disease free survival rates. RESULTS: In the Ku70 expression, there were no cells that did not stain and 3 cases where less than 75% of cells stained positive. In the Ku80 expression, there was one case that did not stain and 3 cases where less than 75% of cells that stained positive. The positivity of p53, EGFR and COX-2 was 19% (10/52), 2% (1/52), 50% (26/52), respectively. There was a significant correlation between p53 and survival (overall and disease free) in the univariate analysis (p=0.049, p=0.017). However, there was no correlation in the multivariate survival analysis (p=0.187, p=0.078). CONCLUSION: This study finds that the expression of p53 correlates with an unfavorable prognosis in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma. The p53 protein can be a biological marker for prediction of prognosis in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma.