Prognostic Significance of p53 and KAI-1 Expression in Patients with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prognostic significance of the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and KAI-1 oncoproteins in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective evaluation was developed on 82 patients with primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated by primary surgery. For the immunohistochemical evaluation, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from resection were used. Clinicopathologic data were correlated with the staining results. RESULTS: The results of the immunohistochemical examination showed a statistically significant relationship between down-regulation of KAI-1 protein expression, increase of the histologic grading, and primary tumors associated with lymph node metastases. On the other hand, no statistical correlation was evidenced between p53 up-regulation and clinicopathologic data or between the two markers. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that KAI-1 may become an important biomarker that could help in selection of high-risk patients with laryngeal spumous cell carcinoma who may benefit from more aggressive therapy or chemoprevention. (Anal Quant Cytol Histol 2010;32:247-253)