Evaluation of p53 protein as a prognostic factor for oral cancer surgery

We have analysed concentrations of the p53 protein in advanced oral carcinomas immunohistochemically and genetically to detect the percentage of overexpression of this antioncogene that indicates a high probability of mutation. This would point to it being a useful prognostic factor, if we consider the importance of the relation between genetic alterations of p53 and poor overall survival. Seventy-five non-consecutive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic nodes were enrolled if there was homogeneity in histopathological grading (G2) of their tumours, and they were treated according to a multidisciplinary treatment plan. Monoclonal antibodies, extraction of DNA, and amplification of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for the immunohistochemical and genetic analyses. There was a significant inverse correlation between p53 overexpression and response to chemotherapy and a stronger association between high P53 overexpression (%) and a genetic mutation of p53 (p = 0.0001). More than 50% overexpression indicated a strong probability of genetic mutation. There was no association between response to chemotherapy and age-groups or TNM classification (p = 0.2), but there was a significant one between sex and site of tumour (p < 0.001). Three prognostic factors were significantly related to prognosis: site of tumour (p = 0.01), response to chemotherapy (p = 0.002), and immuno p53 (p = 0.0001). A tumour that is characterised by p53 overexpression of more than 50% indicates a poor prognosis.