Prognostic impact of p53, c-erbB-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor on head and neck carcinoma

Abstract

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.

HER2 Expression Predicts Improved Survival in Patients with Cervical Node‐Positive Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…However, in our subgroup of patients with cervical node metastasis, HER2 expression correlated with improved survival. An observation that is in line with our finding has been reported in another series, in which HER2 expression was demonstrated to be diminished in HNSCC compared with the mucosa, thus raising the possibility that the loss of HER2 may be a critical step in carcinogenesis 11. Thus, our finding may indicate that the absence of HER2 expression was associated with an evolution to a more malignant phenotype, hence worse outcome.…”

Gefitinib, as a new stent coating material, specifically inhibits smooth muscle cells proliferation through inhibition of EGFR/Akt pathway phosphorylation

“…Gefitinib may bind to intracellular region of EGFR to inhibit phosphorylation of EGFR and further proliferation of smooth muscle cells. EGFR is a very important outpost of information transfer [7]. Once the receptor binds to its ligand, it can promote cellular migration, differentiation and proliferation [8].…”

Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Transformation Into Oral Cancer

“…Basal and parabasal keratinocytes showed positive p53 expression that significantly correlates with the degree of dysplasia in OLP ( Mithani et al, 2007 ; Hadzi-Mihailovic et al, 2017 ). Loss of c-ErbB2 activity in OLP is an important indicator of neoplastic transformation and carcinogenesis ( Parise Junior et al, 2004 ). Other biomarkers showing promising results in pathogenesis were also recognized, such as apoptosis regulators (p53, MCL-1), cell cycle regulators (BMI1, p16), extracellular matrix regulators (MMP-2, 3 and 9), and inflammatory molecules (TNF-α, IL-6, and COX-2) ( Caruntu et al, 2018 ).…”