P53 IN BIOPSIES OF ORAL SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA - A COMPARATIVE-STUDYWITH A MALIGNANCY GRADING SYSTEM

The relationship between the histological grading of malignancy and p5 3 protein expression was studied in 40 biopsies of oral squamous cell carcinomas. An immunohistochemical analysis was carried out using the steptavidin method preceded by a treatment with citric acid in a micro wave oven. All cases were classified according to the histological mal ignancy grading system proposed by Anneroth et al. (Scandinavian Journ al of Dental Research 1987, 95, 229-249). The expression of p53 was fo und in 62.5% of the carcinomas studied. Positivity of p53 staining sho wed a correlation with the histological grade of malignancy and with t he degree of keratinisation, nuclear polymorphism and number of mitose s. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.