Elevated p63 Expression as an Indicator for Poorer Prognosis in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Oral Cavity: An Immunohistochemical Study

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer remains one of the most debilitating and disfiguring of all malignancies. The survival rates for oral cancer vary, depending on several factors. Although p63 is an accepted prognostic marker in various other carcinomas, no consensus has been obtained till date regarding the applicability of p63 as a prognostic marker in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Aim and Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the applicability of p63 as a prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) using incisional biopsies. Materials and Methods: Incisional biopsies of 27 candidates who were histopathologically diagnosed with SCC (8070/3) of the oral cavity (C06.9) (OSCC) between January 2013 and June 2014 were included in the trial. Sections were subjected to immunohistochemistry with p63 as the primary antibody. The percentage p63 expression was calculated and compared based on their Broders' and Anneroth's multifactorial grading systems with the overall survival status of the patients. Results and Observations: A statistically significant increase (P = 0.0203) was found between p63 expression and the histological grading of the tumor (from Grade I OSCC to Grade III OSCC). Similarly, a statistically significant correlation (P = 0.013) was obtained between mean Anneroth score (MAS) and the Broders' grading. Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test showed statistical significance for the survival curves when the candidates were classified based on % p63 expression (P = 0.0049) and MAS (P = 0.0003). Conclusion: We have shown expression of p63 to correlate with survival in OSCCs, where high expression was seen in tumors with poorer survival after treatment. Furthermore, the usage and importance of Anneroth's multifactorial grading system over Broders' grading system in routine histopathological reporting for incisional biopsies of OSCCs is stressed.

Keywords

Carcinoma - human - immunohistochemistry - prognosis - squamous cell of the head and neck - TP63 protein

Publication History

Article published online:
23 June 2021

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