Objective: To correlate p53 overexpression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region with the outcome of treatment.
Study design: Twenty-five biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region, locally advanced and untreated, were studied. Before treatment, all patients underwent fine needle aspiration from primary and/or metastatic lesions. Smears were prepared from the aspirate for immunostaining, and p53 overexpression was measured semiquantitatively. All patients received a radical dosage of radiation equivalent to 60 Gy for 6 weeks in 30 fractions from a 6-MV linear accelerator. Local-regional disease control was studied, and the mean follow-up duration was one year. The pretreatment values of p53 overexpression were correlated with the outcome of treatment.
Results: Overexpression of p53 was found in 36% patients. At the end of 1 year, 6/9 patients showing overexpression were disease free as compared to 5/16 patients without overexpression. The difference was not significant (chi2 test, P>.05).
Conclusion: Response to radiation therapy is not dependent on p53 overexpression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region. However, this was only a pilot study, and a large number of cases are needed to establish the prognostic value of p53 overexpression in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.