Clinical effects of p53 overexpression in squamous cell carcinoma of the sinonasal tract

BACKGROUND The level of p53 protein expression in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) has been estimated, but the results remain inconsistent and the point of consensus has not been reached. This study was first determined to evaluate the clinical effects of p53 expression in SCC of the sinonasal tract. METHODS According to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement criteria, the potential literature was searched from diverse databases. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of association between p53 expression and SNSCC. RESULTS Final 17 eligible studies were included in a total of 258 cases and 748 controls. The result of p53 expression was shown to be notably higher in SNSCC than in benign sinonasal papillomas and normal sinonasal mucosa (OR = 26.93, P < 0.001; OR = 39.79, P < 0.001; respectively). Subgroup analyses of ethnicity revealed that p53 expression had significant association with SNSCC in Asian and Caucasian populations in cancer versus benign sinonasal papillomas or normal sinonasal mucosa. The expression of p53 was notably higher in moderately or poorly differentiated SNSCC than in well-differentiated SNSCC (OR = 3.51, P = 0.021), while p53 expression was not associated with histological type. CONCLUSION The results suggested that p53 overexpression may be correlated with the carcinogenesis and progression of SNSCC. The p53 gene may become a novel drug target of SNSCC. Additional studies on the correlation of p53 expression with clinicopathological features are needed.