Immunohistochemical analysis of P57(kip2), p53 and hsp60 expressions in premalignant and malignant oral tissues.

To investigate the expressions and significances of P57(kip2), p53 and hsp60 proteins in the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence of oral mucosa. A retrospective study was performed in 10 cases of normal oral mucosa, 79 cases of leukoplakia and 67 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The expressions of P57(kip2), p53 and hsp60 proteins were detected in the tissue samples of these populations using immunohistochemical method. P57(kip2) expression was decreased in oral leukoplakia with moderate or severe dysplasia, and further decreased in oral SCC. Negative expression of P57(kip2) was significantly associated with advanced tumor size, the occurrence of lymph node metastasis and the advanced clinical stage in oral SCC. The overall 5-year survival rate in the P57(kip2) positive group was significantly higher than that in the P57(kip2) negative group. P57(kip2) expression was decreased in oral leukoplakia with moderate or severe dysplasia, and further decreased in oral SCC. It was a remarkable progressive and prognostic biomarker in oral SCC.