A new prognostic indicator for head and neck cancer - p53 serum antibodies?

Background: p53 antibodies ale a new serological parameter of unknown poten tial in patients with malignancies. Their occurrence has been described in various types of cancer patients and several studies in head and neck cance r,patients and other cancer patient groups have indicated its prognostic va lue. Material and methods: We investigated the incidence of p53 serum antib odies in 271 head and neck cancer patients with art ELISA and investigated a possible correlation with clinical parameters like tumor staging and grad ing. Results: Sixty-seven head and neck cancer patients (24.7%) were seropo sitive for p53 antibodies. No correlation between p53 antibody status, tumo r staging and grading was found. Conclusions: These results indicate that t he occurrence of p53 antibodies does not correlate with the most relevant p rognostic factors, rate of regional metastasis and primary tumor size, in p atients with head and neck cancer.