Analysis of 724 cases of primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with a focus on young patients and p53 immunolocalization

• Published in: Oral oncology Vol. 45; no. 9; pp. 777 - 782
• Main Authors: De Paula, A.M.B, Souza, L.R, Farias, L.C, Corrêa, G.T.B, Fraga, C.A.C, Eleutério, N.B, Silveira, A.C.O, Santos, F.B.G, Haikal, D.S, Guimarães, A.L.S, Gomez, R.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Age of Onset; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Dermatology; Epidemiology; Female; Head and neck; Head and Neck Neoplasms - epidemiology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - genetics; Head and Neck Neoplasms - metabolism; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Immunohistochemical; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Otolaryngology; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; p53 Protein; Prognosis; Prognostic; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Squamous cell carcinoma; Survival Analysis; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Tumors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Young Adult; Young people; Brazil; Young people; Squamous cell carcinoma; Immunohistochemical; p53 Protein; Head and neck; Epidemiology; Risk factors; Prognostic; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Skin disease; Basal cell carcinoma; Prognosis; Stomatology; ENT; Malignant tumor; Anatomic pathology; Cancerology; Risk factor; ENT disease; Head and neck cancer; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Cancer
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2008.11.015

Summary This study evaluated 724 primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in young and old patients, with regard to clinical profile and immunohistochemical expression of p53 protein. Associations among age, epidemiological and clinicopathological parameters, and survival analysis were evaluated. HNSCC in young people occurred in 14.5% (median age 40.7 years; male-to-female ratio 5.9:1). A statistical association was demonstrated between age and family history of cancer, and between age and anatomical site. Among older patients, a higher presence of disease was noted in posterior sites. Expression of p53 was found in 71.7% of the samples and a higher expression was noted in lesions of young patients. Survival analysis showed that the age parameter is not a reliable prognostic factor for HNSCC. Among young patients, cervical metastasis was associated with worse survival. The presence of a family history of cancer in young patients could indicate genetic susceptibility and molecular disturbances in the p53 pathway in HNSCC of young and older patients seem to be distinct.