[Expression of Ki-67 and p53 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas].

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of p53 tumor suppressor gene and Ki-67 antigen in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its relation to conventional prognostic indicators. PATIENTS AND METHODS: p53 and Ki-67 expressions were evaluated in surgical specimens of 37 patients (34 males, 3 females; mean age 57.2 years; range 35 to 75 years) with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Immunohistochemical studies were performed in routinely fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections using the immunoperoxidase technique and monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: The tumors were well-, moderately, and poorly differentiated in 5, 24, and 8 patients, respectively. Ten patients had lymph node metastasis, nine patients had vascular invasion, and 15 patients had neural invasion. Ki-67 and p53 nuclear staining was detected in 31 (83.8%) and 15 (40.5%) tumors, respectively. The incidence of Ki-67 expression was higher in patients with lymph node metastasis, but this did not exhibit significance. Neither p53 nor Ki-67 immunoexpression was in significant association with conventional clinicopathological parameters (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that p53 and Ki-67 are not correlated with conventional prognostic parameters in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.