Fas expression is associated with a better prognosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

The role of apoptosis, and more specifically the Fas pathway, is still unclear in squamous cell laryngeal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

By means of immunohistochemistry, the expression of three genes involved in different pathways of apoptosis (p53, Bcl-2 and Fas) was studied in a series of 45 squamous cell laryngeal cancers from Spanish patients.

RESULTS

Of the studied tumors, 25 (55.6%) expressed mutant p53, 22 (48.9%) expressed Bcl-2 and 25 (55.6%) expressed Fas. p53, Bcl-2 and Fas expression were not correlated with each other. The only tested factors associated with significantly better survival of the patients were low tumor stage (p = 0.0074), the absence of metastatic regional nodes (p = 0.0009) and Fas expression (p = 0.029). Fas expression was not correlated with the expression of any other tested parameter.

CONCLUSION

The determination of Fas expression in squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma by means of immunohistochemistry using the GM30/CD95 antibody could be of potential use in the clinic.