Detection of ERBB2 (Her2neu)‎ and P16 (INK4A)‎ genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)‎

الملخص EN

Background Head and neck cancers account for approximately 5 % of all carcinomas in industrialized countries, with a worldwide incidence of 500,000 new cases annually.

Nearly all head and neck cancers (90 %) are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), and > 50 % of tumors arise in the oral cavity.

It is important to know what prognostic factors can facilitate diagnosis, optimize therapeutic decisions, and improve the survival of these patients.

A member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, HER2 / neu, has received much attention because of its therapeutic implications.

The p16 gene produces P16 protein, which in turn inhibits phosphorylation of Rb, thus inhibiting the Rb- induced release of transcription factor EF1 and cell cycle progression.

Genetic aberration analyzed by fluorescence (FISH) to measure the gene copy number.

The aims of the present study are to detect HER2 / neu amplification and P16 deletion in oral squamous cell carcinoma and correlate them with various clinicopathological parameters (age, sex, clinical presentation, tumor site, tumor stage, tumor grade). Materials and Methods Thirty formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of oral squamous cell carcinoma which were collected from laboratories archives included in this study.

H and E stain was done for each block for reassessment of histological examination.

DNA probes were used to detect copy numbers of the HER2 / neu and P16 genes using fluorescent in situ hybridization technique (FISH). Results FISH evaluation showed that HER2 / neu gene amplification was found in 12 cases (40 %), while 18 cases (60 %) showed no amplification.

Among the cases in which amplification was not found, 8 cases (44.45 %) showed polysomy of chromosome 17.P16 gene deletion was found in 20 cases (66.7 %) while 10 cases (33.3 %) showed no deletion. Conclusions : HER2 / neu amplification and P16 deletion were observed in studied oral squamous cell carcinoma samples using FISH, however, statistically non significant correlation with all clinicopathological findings (age, sex, clinical presentation, tumor site, tumor stage, tumor grade) and also between both genes were found in the present study.

It is premature to conclude that HER-2 / neu and P16 alterations may have prognostic significance, but it is also too early to dismiss that possibility without a larger, perhaps multicenter study.