Immunoexpression of p53, Ki-67 and E-cadherin in basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

Abstract

Introduction: Basaloid is a rare and poorly-differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, with an invasive solid growth of cells in a lobular configuration. Different molecular markers, such as p53, Ki-67 and E-cadherin, have been shown to be prognostic factors in head and neck cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the immunoexpression of p53, Ki-67 and E-cadherin in relation to prognosis in basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (BSCCL).

Patients and methods: We retrospectively studied 11 cases of BSCCL, all male with a mean age of 62.4 years. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on paraffin-embedded tissues using p53 (DO- 7), Ki-67 (MIB-1) and E-cadherin (36B5) antibodies. Quantitative assessments of the expression and descriptive statistical analyses were performed.

Results: In 72.7% of the cases, clinically advanced stages III-IV were diagnosed. Average survival time was 56.09 months, and 72.7% of patients died as a consequence of the tumour. Immunoreactivity of p53 (>10% of cells) was detected in the 81.8% of the cases. The 72.7% of the cases showed overexpression of Ki-67 (>50% of cells). The cases with low immunoexpression of Ki-67 and p53 had the best clinicopathological data. All cases showed a decreased expression of E-cadherin.

Conclusions: BSCCL is an aggressive variant of the squamous cell carcinoma and has a high expression of p53 and Ki-67 with a low expression of Ecadherin. These results could be related to the aggressiveness of the disease and its poor prognosis.