Immunohistochemical Detection of c-myc Protein in Head and Neck Tumors

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Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between the levels of immunohistochemically detectable c-myc protein in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and clinicopathologic prognostic variables utilized in clinical practice. Design: Cohort study. Setting: University and Veterans Administration medical centers, Cincinnati, Ohio. Patients or Other Participants: Consecutive samples. Intervention: Surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Main Outcome Measure: Correlation between c-myc expression and tumor size, nodal involvement, clinical disease stage, and degree of differentiation. Hypothesis formulated after data collection. Results: Significant negative correlation between the c-myc levels and the number of metastatic nodes (P=.0001) and clinical stage of disease (P=.05). No correlation with tumor size or degree of differentiation. Conclusions: Reduction or loss of c-myc oncoprotein might be associated with metastatic lymph node involvement and advanced stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Further studies are needed to substantiate preliminary findings. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1994;120:255-259)