Protein expression of cancer associated genes: Biopsy material compared toresection material in laryngeal cancer

Background: Changes in several (onco)genes and their protein expression pla y a role in the development of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC ). If protein expression is to be used for clinical purposes, their express ion should preferably be evaluated during the initial diagnostic workup whe n only biopsy material will be available. To investigate the correlation be tween assessment of expression in biopsy and resection material protein exp ression in both was evaluated and compared. Materials and methods: In this study we compared the expression of P53, Rb protein, E-Cadherin, Ep-CAM, De smoplakin1 and cortactin by immunohistochemistry. Expression of the protein s was studied in biopsy and resection material of 26 laryngeal carcinomas. Results: A variable rate of mismatches between the scoring on biopsy and re section material was found for the different proteins. Conclusion: If prote in expression is to be used in clinical practice and decision making it sho uld be realized that a discrepancy exists between the expression in biopsy material and the complete resection material.