RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To detect p16 gene alteration in oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinomas (OMSCC) and its relation with this tumor type. METHODS: To examine 33 paraffin-embedded cases of primary oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma by PCR-SSCP method and analyze relationship of p16 gene alteration with clinical stages, histological grades, lymphatic metastasis in OMSCC. RESULTS: It revealed 9 of 33(27%) with p16 gene change including 7 (21%) homozygous deletions and 2 (6%) point mutations. There were no significant differences among clinical stage I-IV each other (P>0.05),but there were significant differences between clinical stage I+II and clinical stage III+IV (P<0.05); P16 gene alteration did not significantly differ among histological grading, lymphatic metastasis positive group and negative group in OMSCC. CONCLUSION: Genetic deletion and mutation of p16 gene are frequent molecular events in this kind of tumor, its inactivation has played a important role in the developmental course of OMSCC. p16 gene alteration closely correlates with clinical stages, and the frequency of its alteration may increase following the development of tumor clinical course. The results can be used to evaluate the prognosis and assist in diagnosis of the patients. But no relation with histological grades and lymphatic metastasis which still remains to further study.