Correlation of metallothionein expression with clinical progression of cancer in the oral cavity.

UNLABELLED: This study aimed at finding out whether the expression of metallothionein (MT), laminin, Ki-67 antigen and minichromosome maintenance-2 (Mcm-2) protein changes with growing invasiveness of the tumour. The expression of these markers in primary tumours with no metastases to lymph nodes (PT N-) was compared with the expression in primary tumours with metastases in draining lymph nodes (PT N+). The difference in marker expression was also evaluated between metastatic lymph nodes (LN+) and the corresponding primary tumours (PT N+). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The studies were performed on tumour samples from 39 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity floor or of the oral part of the tongue. All the patients had been subjected to radical surgery, accompanied by the removal of lymph nodes. In 20 patients post-operative histopathology disclosed the presence of metastases in the draining lymph nodes (pN+), while in 19 patients the presence of such metastases was excluded (pN0). RESULTS: The PT N+ group was found to contain a significantly higher percentage of cells with cytoplasmic expression of MT, than the PT N- group. In turn, a significant increase in the intensity of reaction of cytoplasmic MT and an increased percentage of cancer cells demonstrating MT expression in the cell nuclei was demonstrated in the LN+ compared to the PT N+ group. The expression of the remaining parameters did not significantly differ between PT N-, PT N+ and LN+. CONCLUSION: A gradual increase in MT expression (both cytoplasmic and nuclear) takes place with progression of the tumour and the increased nuclear expression of MT in LN+ cells may suggest a role of MT in metastasis development in the studied tumours.

Prognostic significance of nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of metallothioneins as related to proliferative activity in squamous cell carcinomas of oral cavity.

UNLABELLED: Metallothioneins (MT) are low molecular weight proteins with high metal and cystein contents. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that cytoplasmic and nuclear MT expression are of prognostic importance in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity, treated by surgery with subsequent radiotherapy. The second aim of the study was to test the potential correlation between the nuclear and cytoplasmic MT expressions as compared to expression of proliferation markers and other clinicopathological variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studies were performed on tumor samples from 50 patients with diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity floor or of oral part of the tongue. All the patients were subjected to radical surgery, accompanied by removal of lymph nodes and post-operative radiotherapy. RESULTS: No significant correlation could be detected between percentage and intensity of MT expression on one hand and proportions of cells with Mcm-2 (minichromosome maintenance protein 2), Ki-67 expressions, nor the grade of malignancy (G) on the other. A significantly shorter survival was detected among patients with tumors of MT expression rated 9 or 12 according to the Remmele scale and among patients with a high percentage (> 50%) of nuclear MT staining. In mulivariate analyses, only OTT (Overall Treatment Time), lymph node involvement and high expression of Mcm-2 were found to be independent risk factors for decreased patient's survival. CONCLUSION: This is relevant evidence that MT overexpression could be related to worse prognosis in patients with oral cancer. We have found no relationship between MT expression and proliferative activity.

[Expression of adhesive molecules, angiogenesis markers and protein products of suppressor genes in neoplasms of oral cavity and maxillary sinus]. / Ekspresja czastek adhezyjnych, wskazników angiogenezy i produktów bialkowych genów supresorowych w nowotworach jamy ustnej i zatok szczekowych.

INTRODUCTION: Adhesion molecules, angiogenesis markers and protein products of suppressor genes are potential prognostic indicators in different type of tumours. The purpose of this study was to analyze relations between expression of these markers and clinical as well as histological features of oral cavity and maxillary sinus tumours. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Measurements of expression of CD44, TP53, Nm23 oncoproteins and angiogenesis markers were performed. Forty-three patients treated in years 1985-2000 in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital in Wroclaw entered our study. Thirty-two of them were treated for oral cavity cancers. Remaining eleven patients were treated for maxillary sinus cancers. RESULTS: We have shown, there was a positive correlation between the number of the vessels and presence of the nodal metastases; between histological grading and VCAM expression; between CD44 expression and total surface area of the blood vessels. There was also correlation between total surface area of the blood vessels and patients' survival time.

Mcm-2 protein expression predicts prognosis better than Ki-67 antigen in oral cavity squamocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed at evaluating the expression intensities of the Mcm-2 protein and Ki-67 antigen in squamocellular carcinomas of the oral cavity and comparing their prognostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients, operated on and treated with radiotherapy for carcinoma of the oral cavity floor and/or the mobile part of the tongue, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation was noted between the expression of Mcm-2 protein and that of the Ki-67 antigen, as well as an absence of such correlations with the remaining examined factors. A significant correlation with worse disease-specific survival period (DSS) in the group of patients demonstrating Mcm-2 protein expression in over 10% of cancer cells was detected (5-year cumulative DSS 50% vs. 76%). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the expression of Mcm-2 protein may be used as a prognostic factor in patients with squamocellular carcinoma of the oral cavity.

[Assessment of cell proliferation based on group analysis of Ki-67 index in serous ovarian cancers]. / Ocena aktywnosci proliferacyjnej komórek na podstawie calosciowej analizy indeksu Ki-67 w rakach surowiczych jajnika.

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian neoplasms are very important problems in medicine, because they account for 23% of all female genital neoplasms, and they are the cause of 47% deaths among women suffering from cancers of the female reproductive organs. Growth of the neoplasms depends on the speed of cells' reproduction. Monoclonal antibody Ki-67 detects specific antigen--nonhistonic protein of cellular nucleus, which is characteristic for dividing cells. It gives the possibility of using Ki-67 to establish proliferating index, especially in intensely proliferating neoplasm tissues. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was the evaluation of clinical parameters compared with histological and laboratory findings in serous carcinomas. The research analysed the level of proliferating index Ki-67 in patients with ovarian cancers and in control group. MATERIALS: The material used consisted of 41 cases of serous ovarian cancer. For clinical examinations we chose only patients who underwent primary surgical operation. The control group for Ki-67 levels were 15 patients with benign serous ovarian adenomas. METHODS: For showing Ki-67 reacting antigen in paraffin samples of ovarian cancer we used DAKO Serum (Rabbit Anti Human Ki-67 Antigen N 1574 LSAB). Tissue proliferation activity called proliferation index--IP Ki-67 was measured as a proportion of numbers of cells reacting with antigen to the total number of cells in the sample. RESULTS: Mean level of IP Ki-67 in examined group was 29.01%, compared to 5.84% in the control group and that was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of cells' proliferative activity differentiates benign adenomas from ovarian serous carcinomas. But I didn't find this kind of correlation among analysed clinical and laboratory parameters and the level of Ki-67 index in ovarian serous cancers.