Correlation of P53 and Granzyme B expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Clinicopathologic Findings

The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation of P53 and granzyme B (GB) expression, and also the relationship between P53 expression and GB+ cell density with lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, and inflammation intensity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Immunohistochemical technique with P53 and GB antibodies were performed on stored paraffin blocks from 48 patients with OSCC (with lymph node metastasis n = 24; without lymph node metastasis n = 24). The density of GB expression was quantified both in invasive front (peritumoral) and within cancer nests (intratumoral). P53 positivity was seen in 13 (54.16%) cases of the nonmetastatic group and 14 cases (58.3%) in the metastatic group. A significant correlation was seen between P53 immunoexpression and histologic grade (P = 0.047), but there was no significant correlation between P53 expression with lymph node metastasis and inflammation intensity. The density of GB+ cells in the peritumoral zone correlates with a higher intratumoral GB expression (P = 0.001) and was significantly higher in the nonmetastatic group (P = 0.029). No significant correlation between GB and P53 immunoexpression, lymph node metastasis, or inflammation intensity was seen. The present study showed that the presence of a higher density of GB+ cells infiltrating the peritumoral area may have an important role against tumoral cells, prevent lymph node metastasis, and better prognosis in OSCC patients.