The immunohistochemical expression of p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) as well as the mean size of the nucleus were evaluated in twenty-three formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from untreated patients with Ti and T2 laryngeal cancer. All of these patients underwent radical radiation therapy. The same factors were assessed in nine cases of laryngeal polyp patients as control patients.
In comparisons between cancer and polyp patients, the expression of p53 protein, PCNA and AgNORs and the mean nuclear area were significantly increased in the cancer patients. This will indicate the possible advantage of these factors in the differentiation of benign and malignant regions.
When non-recurrent and recurrent groups in cancer patients were compared, the expression of PCNA was significantly increased in latter group. The same tendency was recognized in the number of AgNORs. From these results it will be assumed that the marker of the cell proliferative activity, PCNA and AgNORs, will be utilized as a genetic prognostic indicator of laryngeal cancer.
This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research (7) from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.