[Fhit expression and its relationship with apoptosis and prognosis in nasal and paranasal sinus carcinomas]

To assess the protein expression of Fhit and its correlation with spontaneous apoptosis, tumor clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in nasal and paranasal sinus carcinomas.

Forty-eight patients with NPSC treated by radical operations from 1991 to 2000 were studied retrospectively. Patients included 23 female and 25 male ranging in age from 20 to 71 years. Spontaneous apoptotic cells were visualized by TUNEL accompanied by HE and PI stain. Immunohistochemistry using SP method was used to assess the expression of Fhit.

The loss of expression of Fhit was found in 26 patients (54.17%, 26/48). Comparing with abutting non-neoplastic tissue, reduced expression of Fhit was found in 16 (16/29, 55.17%) patients. The adenoid cystic carcinoma showed stronger expression of Fhit than squamous cell carcinomas (P <0.05). The expression of Fhit correlated positively with apoptosis index (r = 0.379, P < 0.01). Patients with positive expression of Fhit had much better prognosis than those with abnormal expression (P < 0.05).

The reduced expression of Fhit may be associated with carcinogenesis and prognosis of nasal and paranasal sinus carcinomas. It could be the tumor suppressor gene and realize its function through accelerating apoptosis in this kind of neoplasm. Fhit expression may provide a novel predictive indicator for disease-free survival after surgical resection and postoperative radiochemotherapy in nasal and paranasal sinus carcinomas.