Adhesion molecule CD44 expression in non-tumor epithelium adjacent to laryngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Studies of adjacent non-tumor epithelia (ANTE) of laryngeal cancer have presented contradictory results regarding the expression of the adhesion molecule CD44 and its role as an early event and risk marker for progression to cancer. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study was performed on changes in CD44 expression in the ANTE and tumor tissue of 112 cases of laryngeal cancer, using the anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody DF1485. The aim was to evaluate the importance of these changes as an early event in laryngeal carcinogenesis. RESULTS: The ANTE were histologically hyperplastic in 107 cases (95.5%) and presented epithelial dysplasia in 105 cases (93.7%). A significant association between tumor and epithelial CD44 expression was observed in both hyperplastic (p < 0.001) and dysplastic (p < 0.001) ANTE. There was no significant association between ANTE CD44 expression and clinical or histopathological relevant data. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of CD44 expression in ANTE can be considered an early event in laryngeal carcinogenesis and a marker of major alterations in CD44 expression in the derived tumor tissue.

Adhesion molecule CD44 expression in non-tumour epithelium adjacent to tongue cancer.

An immunohistochemical study was performed of changes in the expression of adhesion molecule CD44 in 32 adjacent non-tumour epithelia (ANTE) to lingual carcinomas and in the tumour tissue, using anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody DF1485. The aim was to evaluate the importance of these changes as an early event in lingual carcinogenesis. The ANTE was histologically normal in 22 cases (68.8%) and presented epithelial dysplasia in 10 (32.2%). Three cases of normal and dysplastic ANTE, respectively, were CD44- (9.4%). Negative CD44 expression was significantly more frequent in tumours with lower percentages of CD44+ cancer cells, both in normal (P=0.014) and dysplastic (P=0.033) ANTE. The expression in normal ANTE was also significantly associated with clinical stage (P=0.040) and presence of extracapsular nodal spread (P=0.013). Therefore, loss of CD44 expression in ANTE can be considered an early event in lingual carcinogenesis and a marker of major alterations of CD44 expression in the derived tumour tissue.

Adhesion molecule CD44 as a prognostic factor in tongue cancer.

BACKGROUND: Loss of expression of CD44 has been shown to be a factor of poor prognosis in some types of tumors. The purpose of this study was to analyze this in relation to the survival of patients with tongue cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of adhesion molecule CD44 was studied in 56 patients with tongue cancer. Data were gathered on clinical (T, N, M and stage) and pathological (T, N, stage, extracapsular spread, differentiation, tumor thickness, surgical margin and CD44 expression) parameters. Immunohistochemistry studies were carried out using DF1485 anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: In five tumors (8.9%) < 25%, in 11 (19.6%) 25%-49%, in 15 (26.8%) 50%-74% and in 25 (44.6%) > or = 75% of the neoplastic cells expressed CD44. A Cox proportional risks multivariate analysis identified CD44 expression as the parameter most associated with survival (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The reduced expression of CD44 behaves as a marker of poor tongue tumor prognosis.

Importance of tumour thickness measurement in prognosis of tongue cancer.

Eighty-one patients who underwent surgery for cancer of the tongue were retrospectively studied to evaluate the influence on survival of some clinical and pathologic parameters. These parameters and data on the patient's current status were gathered by the study of tissue sections, using haematoxylin-eosin staining, and from medical records. The 5-year survival rate was 68.5%. Univariate analysis showed that the parameters influencing survival were: T (P<0.01), pathologic T (P<0.01), N (P<0.05), pathologic N (P<0.05), extracapsular nodal spread (P<0.05), locoregional recurrence (P<0.01), and tumour thickness (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumour thickness had the greatest influence on survival. Patients with tumour thickness of < or = 3 mm had a 5-year survival of 85.7%, significantly greater (P<0.05) than the rates of 58.3 and 57% for patients with tumour thickness of 4-7 mm and >7 mm, respectively. Wider studies are required to unify criteria for the measurement of this important prognostic parameter.

Treatment of severe chronic oral erosive lesions with clobetasol propionate in aqueous solution.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the results of topical treatment with a mouthwash of 0.05% clobetasol in aqueous solution in 30 patients with severe oral erosive lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Over a 48-week period, we evaluated the evolution of pain, ulcerations, atrophy, and interference of the disease in the patient's daily life, classifying the response as complete (100% remission/recovery), excellent (75%), good (50%), poor (<50%), or failed. RESULTS: The pain and ulceration totally disappeared in 93.3% of cases and 90% reported a full recovery in their daily life activities. Atrophy response was complete in 28.5%, excellent in 60.7%, and good in 3.5%. Two patients showed no response to the treatment. Five patients suffered mild adverse effects (moon face and hirsutism) between week 4 and week 6 of treatment, which were speedily reversed by reducing the frequency of mouthwash. CONCLUSIONS: Clobetasol mouthwash is a safe and efficacious option for the treatment of severe oral erosive lesions.