The overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

We examined the expression of CDK2 using immunohistochemistry in 102 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs). The results showed that a total of 63.73% (65/102) patients revealed a CDK2 overexpression pattern and the CDK2 overexpression was correlated significantly with the tumor site, tumor size and advanced stage. A positive correlation between the CDK2 expression and proliferative activity of tumor cells measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen was found (r = 0.894, p < 0.0001). The Kaplan-Meier's analysis showed that shorter disease-free survival was significantly associated with tumor grade, tumor size, lymph node metastasis and advanced stage. Overall survival was significantly associated with tumor grade, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, advanced stage and CDK2 overexpression. When CDK2 and PCNA were combined, the patients with both CDK2 overexpression and PCNA overexpression had a poorer overall survival. We concluded that the CDK2 overexpression may be associated with the malignant biological behavior of LSCCs.