[Immunohistochemical markers of cell proliferation in laryngeal carcinoma]. / Marcadores inmunohistoquímicos de proliferación celular en el carcinoma de laringe.

Although several clinicopathological factors may contribute to the prognosis of laryngeal carcinoma, these factors are still uncertain because the carcinogenesis process and malignant behavior are not well known. Immunohistochemical methods using two important markers, PCNA and Ki67 antigen, were used to assess proliferative activity in malignant laryngeal lesions. We studied the correlation between expression of these markers and clinical factors in 72 patients with carcinoma of the larynx: age, sex, occupation, smoking, alcohol consumption, marital status, etc. We also analyzed other known biological and histopathological prognostic factors (tumor stage, histological grade, lymph node metastases, and local invasion). PCNA and Ki-67 expression differed significantly in relation to histological grade and lymph node involvement. No associations were seen between the expression of PCNA and Ki-67 antigens and other study parameters.

[Study of bcl-2 oncogene in squamous-cell carcinoma of the larynx]. / Estudio del oncogén Bcl-2 en el carcinoma escamoso de laringe.

Apoptosis is a special type of programmed cell death that occurs in the embryonic period, in normal adult tissues, and in several pathological situations. The Bcl-2 gene (B-cell leukemia/lymphoma) is the first member of an oncogene family whose main function is to increase cell survival and inhibit apoptosis, thus participating in the carcinogenic process. This relationship motivated our study of antiapoptosis through the immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 oncogene in 72 patients with cancer of the larynx who underwent surgery in our department. The correlation between immunohistochemical expression and clinical factors was analyzed: age, sex, work, smoking and drinking history, marital status, etc., as well as other known biological and histopathological prognostic factors (tumoral stage, histological grade, neck metastases, and local invasion). Bcl-2 expression showed a statistically significant correlation with histological grade and regional lymph node involvement, but no correlation with the other parameters studied.

[Immunohistochemical expression of P53 suppressor genes and retinoblastoma in laryngeal carcinoma]. / Expresión inmunohistoquímica de genes supresores p53 y retinoblastoma en el carcinoma de laringe.

Carcinoma of the larynx is responsible for 1% of all tumors and for 25% of oncologic disease of the head and neck. Tumor suppressor genes control cell proliferation by suppressing specific mechanisms that stimulate the proliferative response. Rb and p53, both nuclear, are the most studied tumor suppressor genes. We evaluated the immunoexpression of these markers in 72 carcinomas of the larynx and correlated it with patients' clinical parameters: age, sex, occupation, tobacco and alcohol use, marital status, etc. Biological and anatomopathological parameters (tumor stage, histological type, degree of local invasion, and lymph node metastases) also were studied. Statistically significant differences were found in mean immunostaining for the Rb gene with respect to histological grade, lymph node enlargement, and smoking. We observed no positive correlation between p53 and the classic clinical-pathological parameters, although important trends were evident, as well as relatively frequent immunostaining (about 40%) of the total neoplastic population.

[Adenomatous degeneration in a prepuberal patient with generalized juvenile polyposis and angiomas of the oral mucosa]. / Degeneración adenomatosa en una paciente prepuberal afecta de poliposis juvenil generalizada y angiomas en mucosa oral.

The authors present a 12 year old patient affected by a juvenile polyposis syndrome. They describe the clinic and the complementary tests carried out, especially the findings of the digestive fibroendoscopy which allowed multiple polyps in the duodenum, colon and rectum to be shown, confirmed by an anatomopathological study. Two years afterwards, a total colectomy and ileoproctostomy was carried out. In the operative piece included numerous hamartomatous polyps with adenomatous isolated foci. A subsequent endoscopic exploration showed numerous polyps in anus and rectal stump. The adenomatous transformation and recidivation of her polyposis require close vigilance and a follow-up of this female patient in view of the possibility of the precocious development of a colorectal carcinoma.