P53 protein expression in oral squamous cell cancer in relation to some of its clinicopathological variables.

Oral squamous cell cancer develops through a multistep process by the accumulation of genetic and phenotypic changes. Loss of P53 tumor suppressor gene function represents the most common genetic lesion in human cancer. The significance of P53 expression for the development and progression of oral squamous cell cancer has still to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to estimate relationships between P53 protein expression and some clinicopathological variables of established or presumed prognostic value. A series of 129 oral squamous cell cancers was investgated retrospectively for expression of P53 protein by immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The slides were stained with H+E and by immunohistochemistry with anti-human P53 antibody. Positive immunohistochemical staining for P53 protein was present in 75 (58%) oral cancer cases. There were no statistically significant correlations between oral cancer P53 expression and tumor site, grading, mitotic index, invasive margin type, as well as patients age and sex. Our results suggest that immunohistochemical overexpression of P53 is an important markerof accomplished neoplastic transformation in oral cavity lesions but it does not play a crucial role in the tumor progression.

Correlation between chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin expression, and some clinico-pathological features of colorectal cancer.

Several studies employing various techniques have demonstrated the occurrence of neuroendocrine cells in colorectal cancers. Chromogranin A (CGA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin (SYN) are general markers of neuroendocrine cells. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the possible correlations between CGA and/or NSE and/or SYN expression in colorectal cancer and some of its clinico-pathological features. The study was conducted on 48 patients with colorectal cancer treated with surgery only at the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Medical Academy and District Oncology Center, Bialystok. There were no statistically significant relationships between colorectal cancer CGA and/or NSE and/or SYN expression and tumor site, histopathological type, grading, lymph node metastases, age and sex of patients. However, high ratio of lymph node metastases in colorectal cancers with neuroendocrine cells suggests their more agressive clinical course.

Proliferating activity in oral dysplastic leasions and squamous cell carcinomas.

The aim of the study was the quantitative analysis of AgNORs in oral squamous cell carcinomas as well as in dysplastic epithelial changes accompanied and not accompanied by oral squamous cell carcinomas. AgNOR proteins were visualized in histological slides using silver impregnation technique according to D. Ploton. In each sample 100 cell nuclei were assessed. The study used 54 cases of proliferating oral epithelial changes divided into 3 groups: group I consisting of 13 cases of dysplastic lesions not accompanied by oral squamous cell carcinomas; group II (a total of 18 cases) containing dysplastic lesions situated in the vicinity of oral carcinomas and group III (23 cases) with oral squamous cell carcinomas. Statistically significant differences were found between groups with mild dysplasia and groups with severe dysplasia as well as squamous cell carcinomas. Statistical analysis did not show any differences in the number of AgNORs between squamous cell carcinomas and epithelial lesions with severe dysplasia. Our results demonstrate that the analysis of AgNORs expression can serve only as an additional parameter to evaluate the potential of malignant transformation.

Overexpression of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in the thyroid follicular tumours. Comparison of the cytological and histopathological examinations.

The aim of the study was to determine the usefulness of the expression of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region proteins (AgNORs) as a marker of malignancy degree in thyroid follicular tumours. The study used the postoperative material of thyroid glands and cytologic material obtained with fine needle aspiration biopsy. Follicular adenoma, carcinoma and struma nodosa hyperplastica-type changes were analysed. The comparison of the AgNOR parameters examined revealed statistically significant differences between the groups of follicular carcinoma and follicular adenoma, follicular carcinoma and nodular goitre, and between adenoma and nodular goitre. However, the "overlapping" of value ranges was observed between the groups of follicular carcinoma and adenoma, as well as follicular adenoma and nodular goitre. This referred particularly to atypical adenoma parameters found within a non-diagnostic range. No differences were observed in the counts of AgNOR dots between histologic and cytologic material obtained with fine needle aspiration biopsy.