p53 and cyclinX D1 protein expression in carcinomas of the parotid gland

Background: p53 and cyclin DI genes play a central role in the regulation of the GI phase of the cell-cycle, and are frequently involved in head and neck tumorigenesis. Materials and Methods: By means of immunohistochemistry, we retrospectively investigated the overexpression of cyclin DI and p53 genes in a series of 28 parotid gland carcinomas. The immunohistochemical analysis was performed using the ABC method and the antibodies DCS6 (for cyclin DI) and CMI (for p53). Results p53 was overexpressed in 12 (42.9%) and cyclin DI in 6 cases (21.4%). No significant association was found between p53 or cyclin D1 expression and the evaluated clinicopathological parameters of tumor extension, clinical stage and lymph node or distant metastases. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that all of the patients with a high expression of p53 died of their disease. Conclusions: The present data confirm the role of p53 abnormalities in the pathogenesis of salivary gland carcinoma and report, for the first time, the involvement of cyclin D1 gene in these tumors.