Background and Objectives: Laryngeal carcinoma is the
most frequent neoplasm in the head and neck region and is
notably prevalent in areas such as the Mediterranean basin.
However, the numbers of reports that deal with the molecular
biology of laryngeal carcinoma in this region are few. Thirtythree
laryngeal cancer specimens and their adjacent mucosa
were studied for the expression of telomerase catalytic unit
(hTERT), bc1-X and bc1-2 together with morphometric analysis
of nuclear parameters.
Material and Methods: The standard peroxidase method
was used For immunohistochemical localization of hTERT,
bcl-X and bc1-2 antibodies where all antibodies and detection
kits were purchased from Novocastra, UK. Feulgen staining
was used before morphometric analysis.
Results: Immunohistochemical detection of telomerase
hTERT was found in 78.8% of cancers and in 75% of adjacent
tissue and was comparable to previous results from other
studies using TRAP assays. Low bc1-2 and high bcI-X expression
was also detected in 18.2% and 60.8% respectively. A
significant correlation could be found between high telomerase
expression and tumor grade, nuclear area and nuclear short
axis.
Conclusion: Immunohistochemical detection of hTERT
is comparable to other assays and could be related to higher
tumor grade. Telomerase correlation with increased nuclear
area and short axis, which are statistically correlated to
malignant transformation could favor the theory of field
cancerization in near-by mucosa. |
