MOLECULAR BIOPATHOLOGY OF METAPLASTIC, DYSPLASTIC, AND NEOPLASTIC LARYNGEAL EPITHELIUM

In a large series of more than 100 cases of laryngeal carcinomas, the presence of steroid hormone receptors was demonstrated in the cytosol and in the nuclear fraction. Their presence was confirmed by the ident ification of estrogen receptor isophorms and by the detection of hormo ne-related proteins such as ER-D5, EGFr, and cathepsin D. These molecu les were also variably expressed in normal, hyperplastic, and dysplast ic epithelium. These data suggest a possible role of hormone receptors during laryngeal carcinogenesis. Finally, the presence of an Angioten sin II receptor was studied in neoplastic and preneoplastic laryngeal epithelium.