The Expression And Clinical Significance Of P63 And P73 In Human Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective:To investigate the expression of p63 and p73 protein in human vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, to explore the role of p63 and p73 in the tumorigenesis and progression of human vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:The expression of p63 and p73 were detected by immunohistochemistry in 20 normal vulvar tissuses,30 vulvar intraepithelial neoplasias and 44 human vulvar squamous cell carcinomas.Results:1. p63 protein was detected in normal vuluar tissue, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and human vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. The rate of p63 protein expression in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia was considerably higher than that in normal vulvar tissuse (P<0.05). The positive expression rate for p63 protein in human vulvar squamous cell carcinoma was so much higher than that in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (P<0.05).2. The level expression of p63 was relevant with tumor staging and lymphatic metastasis of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, while the expression of p63 had no relationship with age, localization and Pathological grading.3. The abnormal expression of p63 protein was associated with the poor prognosis of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. The 3-year survival rate for the low expression of p63-Postive was higher than that of the high expression of p63-Postive (p<0.05).3. p73 protein was detected in normal vuluar tissue, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia as well as human vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. The rate of p73 protein expression in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia was higher than that in normal vulvar tissuse (P<0.05). The positive expression rate for p73 protein in human vulvar squamous cell carcinoma was much higher than that in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia(P<0.05).4. The expression of p73 correlated with lymphatic node metastasis, while the expression of p73 had no relationship with age, localization, Pathological grading and tumor staging in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.5.There was a positive correlation between p63 and p73 protein in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusions:The expression p63 and p73 protein are increasing in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Their abnormal expression maybe associated with malignant biologial behavior. p63 and p73 have dependent fuction in generation, development and invasion of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, the expression of p63 may provide useful prognosis implication and be an useful prognosis maker for vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.