Immunohistochemical detection of p53 in non‐malignant and malignant oral lesions associated with snuff dipping in the Sudan and Sweden

• Published in: International journal of cancer Vol. 68; no. 6; pp. 749 - 753
• Main Authors: Ibrahim, Salah O., Johannessen, Anne C., Idris, Ali M., Hirsch, Jan M., Vasstrand, Endre N., Magnusson, Bengt, Nilsen, Rune
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 11.12.1996; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - chemistry; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - chemistry; Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Norway; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Plants, Toxic; Precancerous Conditions - chemistry; Precancerous Conditions - epidemiology; Precancerous Conditions - metabolism; Precancerous Conditions - pathology; Sudan; Sweden; Tobacco, Smokeless - adverse effects; Tropical medicine; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - analysis; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - biosynthesis; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Sweden; Europe; Africa; Sudan; Norway; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Squamous cell carcinoma; Dysplasia; Premalignant lesion; Carcinoma in situ; Stomatology; Pathogenesis; Exploration; Malignant tumor; Smokeless tobacco; Proteins; Pathology; Oral cavity; Histopathology; TP53 Gene; Oral cavity disease; Mutation; Tumor suppressor gene
• ISSN: 0020-7136; 1097-0215; 1097-0215
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19961211)68:6<749::AID-IJC10>3.0.CO;2-W

Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of p53 in pre‐malignant oral lesions and oral squamous‐cell carcinomas (SCCs) from Swedish and Sudanese snuff‐dippers, as well as in pre‐malignant oral lesions and oral SCCs from non‐snuff‐dippers from the Sudan, Sweden and Norway. Of the 14 SCCs from Sudanese snuff‐dippers, 21% (3/14) expressed p53. Of the 14, 60 and 41 SCCs from non‐snuff‐dippers from the Sudan, Sweden and Norway, 64% (9/14), 65% (39/60) and 68% (28/41) expressed p53, respectively. A statistically significant difference in expression of p53 was found in SCCs from Sudanese snuff‐dippers compared to those from non‐snuff‐dippers from all/or any of the 3 countries. None of the suspected pre‐malignant oral lesions from Sudanese snuff dippers or non‐snuff‐dippers expressed p53. Only 2 out of the 15 oral fibro‐epithelial hyperplastic lesions from Swedish snuff‐dippers expressed p53. Some of the oral epithelial dysplastic lesions, as well as the carcinoma in situ lesions from Norwegian non‐snuffdippers, expressed p53, while the oral fibro‐epithelial hyperplastic lesions did not. The low relative frequency of p53 expression found in oral SCCs from snuff‐dippers compared to those from non‐snuff‐dippers might suggest differences in mechanisms of oncogenic action induced by snuff. Alternatively, the pathogenesis of malignant oral lesions from snuff‐dippers may follow a p53‐independent pathway. In view of the unusually high levels of the tobacco‐specific nitrosamines (TSNA) found in the type of snuff used in the Sudan, investigations of p53 mutations or oncogenes are needed. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.