Expression of p34cdc2 protein kinase and p53 in supraglottic carcinomas

The clinicopathological significance of the simultaneous expression of the p34cdc2 protein kinase oncogene product and mutant-type p53 oncogene product was studied in 15 supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas. Clinical and histopathological data were recorded from the medical records, and immunohistochemical and DNA cytofluorometric analysis were performed. p34cdc2 was positive in 80% and mutant-type p53 in 53% of the tumors. Their simultaneous expression was seen in 33% of the tumors, but the probability was not statistically significant. Correlations between the expression of p34cdc2 or mutant-type p53 and T, N categories, histological differentiation, and DNA ploidy pattern were not significant. However, when the percentages of p34cdc2 and mutant-type p53-positive cells in the tumor were high, aneuploidy tended to be present and the clinical stage more advanced. It is suggested that the growth and progression of supraglottic carcinomas are associated with the disruption of the regulatory system of the cell cycle.