Clinicopathologic significance and prognostic role of cyclin E and cyclin A expression in laryngeal epithelial lesions

Abstract

Conclusions. The determination of cyclin A expression might be helpful in the identification of laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) patients with increased risk of metastases. The results suggest that cyclin A may be a more informative marker for cell proliferation than Ki-67. Abnormalities of cyclin E and cyclin A may play an important role in LSCC development and progression; however, the expression of cyclin E does not seem to have prognostic significance. Objective. The aim of the study was to elucidate a possible association between cyclin E and cyclin A expression and clinicopathologic factors and their potential role as prognostic markers for patients with laryngeal epithelial lesions. Materials and methods. Expression of cyclins E and A, and Ki-67 was examined immunohistochemically in a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded series of 46 LSCC; 23 epithelial dysplasias (ED); and 21 normal mucosae (NM). Results. The mean labeling indices (LIs) for cyclin E in LSCC, ED, and NM were 10.6%, 4.9%, and 0%, and for cyclin A 27.2%, 17.5%, and 7%, respectively. In LSCC, a statistically significant correlation was found between enhanced cyclin A expression and a higher incidence of locoregional lymph node metastasis (p<0.01). The enhanced expression of cyclin A was linked with cell proliferation in LSCC, ED, and NM. No association was observed between cyclin E and A and other clinicopathologic parameters or applied treatments. The prognostic significance of cyclin E, cyclin A, and Ki-67 in determining overall survival time showed no statistically significant differences.