Oral Oncology
Volume 36, Issue 1 , Pages 54-60, January 2000

Influence of p53 and bcl-2 on proliferative activity and treatment outcome in head and neck cancer patients

  • I.M Dijkema

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +31-30-2508800; fax: +31-30-2581226
    • ,
  • H Struikmans

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, Netherlands
    • ,
  • H.F.J Dullens

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology, University Hospital Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, Netherlands
    • ,
  • H.B Kal

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, Netherlands
    • ,
  • I van der Tweel

      Affiliations

    • Centre for Biostatistics, Padualaan 14, 3584 CH Utrecht, Netherlands
    • ,
  • J.J Battermann

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, Netherlands

Received 11 May 1999; accepted 22 June 1999.

Abstract 

Knowledge about the influence of biomarkers on cell proliferative activity might explain differences in radiosensitivity between head and neck tumors and might improve patient selection for the most optimal treatment strategy. p53 and bcl-2 protein expression were determined immunohistochemically in 56 head and neck cancer patients, treated by surgery only in five cases and by radiotherapy, with or without surgery, in 51 cases. Relationships with various cell proliferation markers, determined by flow-cytometry (G1-phase fraction, S-phase fraction, BrdUrd-labeling index, duration of S-phase and potential doubling time) were investigated. Associations between these cell proliferation parameters, on the one hand, and both p53 and bcl-2, on the other, were not found. Furthermore, p53 and bcl-2 expression were both not related to clinicopathological parameters (T- and N-stage, site, grade) and did not affect loco-regional recurrence-free survival and/or disease-free survival. We could not find a prognostic value for both p53 and bcl-2 protein expression to differentiate radiosensitive from radioresistent head and neck tumors.

Keywords:  p53, bcl-2, Head and neck tumors, Cell proliferation, Prognosis

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PII: S1368-8375(99)00051-2

Oral Oncology
Volume 36, Issue 1 , Pages 54-60, January 2000

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