Objective: To study the clinical significance of p15 and Rb protein expressions in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC).
Method: p15 and Rb proteins were examined with immunohistochemical SABC method in the paraffin-embedded specimens of 45 cases with LSCC and 15 cases of laryngeal normal or proliferative mucosas of larynx as a contrast.
Result: The positive rate of p15 protein in the cases of LSCC is 48.9%, while the positive rate in the other group is 100%. The difference is significant. The positive rate of p15 protein is 66.7% in the group of LSCC during 0-II phases, and in the other group of LSCC during III-IV phases, the positive rate is 33.3%. The difference is significant. The positive rate of Rb protein in the cases of LSCC is 88.9%, the positive rate in the other group as a contrast is 93.3%, the difference between two groups isn't significant. Analyzed by chi-square test, p15 protein expressions don't correlate with Rb protein expressions in the cases of LSCC. Rb protein expressed apparently positiveness in the basal cells and adjacent stratum spinosum cells of laryngeal stratified squamous epithelium, while p15 protein expressed apparently positiveness in the distant stratum spinosum cells and stratum granulosum cells.
Conclusion: Tumor-suppressor gene p15 may play an important role in the genesis and development of LSCC. The analysis of p15 protein expression may provide evidence for the therapeutics and evaluate prognosis of LSCC. p15 and Rb proteins aren't parallel in each stratum of the laryngeal normal or proliferative stratified squamous epithelium. p15 protein plays an important role in cell proliferation.