Background/aim: Oncogene up-regulation combined with suppressor gene down-regulation is a crucial genetic combination that promotes cell neoplastic phenotype and progressively malignant transformation in solid malignancies, including laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Among oncogenes, the Kirsten ras oncogene homolog (K-Ras) is involved in LSCC onset and progression.
Patients and methods: Sixty (n=60) primary LSCC tissue sections were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Digital image analysis (DIA) was also implemented for measuring K-Ras protein expression levels.
Results: High K-Ras protein expression levels were observed in 20/60 (33.3%) LSCC tissue sections, whereas the rest of the cases (n=40; 66.7%) demonstrated low expression. Overall K-Ras expression was borderline significantly associated to the grade of the examined malignancies (p=0.048), whereas no other strong statistical correlations were identified. A progressive K-Ras overexpression was observed in all grades of the examined cases.
Conclusion: K-Ras over expression is correlated to a progressive dedifferentiation in LSCC.
Keywords: Carcinoma; K-Ras; larynx; oncogene.
Copyright© 2021, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.