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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
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Establishment of a Clinic-based Biorepository
Published on: May 29, 2017
p53 and skin carcinomas with skull base invasion: a case-control study
Claudio R Cernea1, Alberto R Ferraz, Inês V de Castro
1Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of São Paulo Medical School, Alameda Franca 267, cjto. 21, São Paulo, CEP 01422-000, Brazil. cerneamd@uol.com.br
Summary
p53 protein expression was more frequent in aggressive basal cell carcinomas (BCC) invading the skull base than in those with good outcomes. This trend was reversed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), though not significantly.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Aggressive skin carcinomas can exhibit increased p53 protein expression.
- p53 protein is a tumor suppressor implicated in various cancers.
- Skull base invasion signifies advanced and aggressive cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between p53 protein expression and tumor aggressiveness in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with skull base invasion.
- To compare p53 expression levels in invasive BCC and SCC with tumors exhibiting a favorable prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect p53 protein expression.
- The study included 24 BCC and 11 SCC cases with skull base invasion.
- A control group comprised 23 BCC and 10 SCC cases with a good outcome.
Main Results:
- p53 expression was observed in 70.83% of invasive BCC, versus 43.48% in controls (P = 0.058).
- p53 positivity was found in 9.09% of invasive SCC, compared to 40.00% in controls (P = 0.149).
- The increased p53 expression in invasive BCC was marginally significant.
Conclusions:
- p53 protein expression is more prevalent in basal cell carcinomas with skull base invasion compared to those with good outcomes.
- The observed difference in p53 expression between invasive and non-invasive squamous cell carcinomas was not statistically significant.
- p53 may serve as a potential biomarker for aggressive basal cell carcinoma with skull base invasion.
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