Pattern of p63 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

P63 is a recently discovered gene harbouring different isoforms by alternate splicing. The two main isoforms, TAp63 and Delta Np63, have opposite functions, being responsible for cell-cycle arrest and cell proliferation, respectively. In addition, new isoforms have been described with the same seque...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 2004-04, Vol.444 (4), p.332-339
Main Authors: FOSCHINI, Maria P, GAIBA, Alessia, COCCHI, Roberto, PENNESI, Maria G, GATTO, Maria R, FREZZA, Giovanni P, PESSION, Annalisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis
Cancer
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology
Dermatology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lymphatic Metastasis - pathology
Male
Medical sciences
Membrane Proteins - biosynthesis
Membrane Proteins - genetics
Middle Aged
Mouth Mucosa - metabolism
Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism
Mouth Neoplasms - pathology
Prognosis
Protein Isoforms
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
Tumors
Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions
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Description
Summary:P63 is a recently discovered gene harbouring different isoforms by alternate splicing. The two main isoforms, TAp63 and Delta Np63, have opposite functions, being responsible for cell-cycle arrest and cell proliferation, respectively. In addition, new isoforms have been described with the same sequence as TAp63 and Delta Np63, but lacking exon 4 (Delta 4Tap63 and Delta Np73L). P63 as detected using immunohistochemistry is present in squamous cell carcinomas. To better define the role of p63 in squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity (OSCC), 39 patients were investigated using immunohistochemical analysis with a monoclonal antibody recognising all p63 isoforms and an anti-Ki67 antibody. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR were also performed using isoform-specific primers to evaluate the p63 mRNA expression pattern. Using immunohistochemistry, p63 was always present in OSCC, and its distribution was similar to that of Ki67. The percentage of positive cells increased from normal to neoplastic mucosa, but there was no relationship between the number of p63 positive cells and prognosis. P63 mRNA was found in all patients. The truncated isoforms Delta 4TAp63 and Delta Np73L were more frequently expressed in patients presenting with metastases. Delta Np73L was found in 66.6% of tumours with lymph-node metastases, but in only 33.3% of those devoid of lymph-node metastases at presentation. An impaired expression of the p63 isoforms might favour cell proliferation and indirectly enhance the metastasising capacity of OSCC.
ISSN:0945-6317
1432-2307
DOI:10.1007/s00428-003-0969-x