Research
The prognostic significance of p63 and Ki-67 expression in myoepithelial carcinoma
1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, and The Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
2 Department of Pathology, Clinical Pathological Quality Control Center of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, and The Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
3 Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, and The Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 38Guangji Road, Banshan Qiao, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
Head & Neck Oncology 2012, 4:9 doi:10.1186/1758-3284-4-9
Published: 27 March 2012Abstract
Background
Myoepithelial carcinoma is a rare tumour. The clinical and biological behaviours of these tumours are variable. Although many factors have been evaluated as potential prognostic indicators, including clinical stage, site and size of the tumour, high proliferative activity, extensive invasion into the surrounding tissue, perineural permeation, the abnormal presence of nuclear DNA content, and marked cellular pleomorphism, there are no definite histological features that clearly correlate with their behaviour. Thus, conclusions regarding prognostic factors and ideal treatment may emerge as the number of investigated myoepithelial carcinoma cases accumulate.
Methods
Using immunohistochemistry, expression levels of p63 and Ki-67 were determined in 16 myoepithelial carcinoma samples and correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and patient prognosis.
Results
p63 expression was detected in six of the myoepithelial carcinoma tissues (37.5%) and Ki-67 was detected in five (31.3%). In addition, p63 and Ki-67 expression levels were associated with myoepithelial carcinoma recurrence and metastasis. All six patients with p63-positive expression died due to disease or cardiovascular disease (mean survival time = 50.5 months), and p63 expression was statistically significant with respect to survival (P = 0.01). Four patients with Ki-67-positive expression died due to disease or cardiovascular disease (mean survival time = 44.0 months); however, there was no statistically significant difference between Ki-67 expression and survival (P = 0.24).
Conclusions
Recurrence and metastasis in myoepithelial carcinomas are more frequent in p63-positive and Ki-67-positive EMCs, and poor prognosis is associated with overexpression of p63.
