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TGFbeta1-positive expression was found in 47.2% of larynx, 36.7% of oral cavity/oropharynx and in 24% of the hypopharynx tumors. Reactivity in >60% of the cells was displayed only by 11.4% of HNSCC. All normal controls were positive. TGFbeta1-positive expression did not correlate with clinico pathological parameters. An association with differentiation was verified only in oral cavity/oropharynx tumors (P

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CONTEXT: p53, c-erbB-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are cancer-related proteins that are usually expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Their prognostic value remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic impact of p53, c-erbB-2 and EGFR expression in head and neck SCC. TYPE OF STUDY: Prospective. SETTING: Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hospital AC Camargo, São Paulo. METHODS: Fifty-four patients were studied for p53, c-erbB-2 and EGFR expression in head and neck SCC and adjacent mucosa, via immunohistochemistry. These data were correlated with histoclinical data and survival. RESULTS: There was a direct association of p53 expression in SCC and mucosa (p = 0.001); loss of c-erbB-2 expression (-) from normal mucosa to SCC (p = 0.04); lower frequency of association of c-erbB-2 (+) with EGFR (-) in SCC (p = 0.02); and a direct association of EGFR (+) expression in SCC and mitotic index (p = 0.03). The 60-month actuarial survival rates for patients presenting lymph node metastasis were higher when there was no capsule rupture by SCC (48.3%; p = 0.02), no more than one positive lymph node (52.3%; p = 0.004) or clear surgical margins (47.0%; p = 0.01), in comparison with patients presenting capsule rupture (20.2%), two or more positive lymph nodes (18.7%) or compromised surgical margins (0.0%), respectively. Patients presenting SCC p53 (+) and EGFR (-) demonstrated greater survival (75.0%; p = 0.03) than for the remaining group (33.1%). Multivariate analysis confirmed the positive impact of p53 (+) and EGFR (-) on survival (p = 0.02). DISCUSSION: Associations were found for p53, c-erbB-2 and EGFR expression with histoclinical data and prognosis. Interestingly, these results suggest that loss of mucosal c-erbB-2 expression could be involved in SCC carcinogenesis; EGFR expression in SCC is related to tumor mitotic index; and presence of p53 with absence of EGFR expression in head and neck SCC may be a prognostic factor for survival. CONCLUSIONS: Further prospective studies should be conducted to confirm the influence of p53, c-erbB-2 and EGFR on histoclinical data and prognosis.

Background: The expression of the thyroid cancer-1(TC-1) gene seems to be related with malignant transformation in the thyroid tissue. Objective: We evaluated the potential use of TC-1 gene expression as a marker of malignancy in thyroid nodules. Methods: A total of 92 frozen thyroid samples were studied, including 46 samples from thyroid nodules (19 papillary carcinomas, 1 follicular carcinoma, 24 adenomatous goiters, and 2 follicular adenomas) and 46 samples from normal surrounding thyroid tissue. Total RNA was extracted and TC-1 expression was assessed by semiquantitative Multiplex PCR. Results were verified using real-time RT-PCR in some of the samples. Results: Overall mean TC-1 gene expression (normalized by the ABL gene) was 1.73 ± 1.67 (0.33–9.33). There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between TC-1 gene expression in benign thyroid lesions (1.07 ± 0.10) and carcinomas (2.73 ± 0.51). Conclusion: Our results suggest that TC-1 gene expression may be useful in the differential diagnosis of goiters and thyroid papillary carcinomas.