Objective: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of anti-apoptosis gene Survivin and tumor suppressor gene PTEN in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC) METHOD: The expression of Survivin and PTEN protein were detected by immunohistochemistry Envision method in 71 specimens of LSCC, and 10 specimens of vocal cord polyp as control.
Result: No Survivin was detected in polyp of vocal cord. However, it was detected in 53 of 71 (74. 6%) specimens from the patients with LSCC. The Survivin expression was unrelated to the age and sex of patients or the size of tumors ( P >0.05) ,but related to the tumor site, clinical stage, histological grade, lymphatic metastasis and tumor prognosis ( P <0. 05). PTEN had the expression in all specimens of vocal cord polyp. However, it was detected in 33 of 71 (46. 5%) specimens of laryngeal carcinoma. The PTEN expression was unrelated to the clinical data including age, gender, tumor size and site ( P >0. 05), but related to the clinical stage, pathological grade, lymph node metastasis and prognosis ( P <0. 05). There was a negative correlation between Survivin expression and PTEN expression ( P <0. 05).
Conclusion: The abnormal expression of Survivin and PTEN gene may be related to carcinogenesis, tumor progress and prognosis. The Survivin and PTEN gene may act as markers predicting biological behavior of LSCC. The coexpression of Survivin and PTEN gene have the synergism in carcinogenesis and tumor progress of LSCC.