Expression of PTEN and Its Correlation with Proliferation MarkerKi-67 in Head and Neck Cancer

Introduction PTEN is part of large family of tyrosine phosphatases and has been foundinactivated in a wide variety of human cancers. Aims In the present study we have tried to determine the association of theexpression patterns of this gene with carcinogenesis. Methods First, a systematic review was carried out to ascertain the importance of thePTEN gene and its role in carcinogenesis. In the second phase, acase-control study was designed using different expression analysistechniques. Expression of PTEN mRNA was analyzed using reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Significantly downregulated expression of PTEN was observed in patients withhead and neck cancer (HNC) compared to adjacent normal-tissue controls.These results were confirmed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR). Significant downregulation of the gene was observed in HNC patientscompared to adjacent normal-tissue controls. PTEN expression was correlatedwith different histopathological parameters of the study cohort bySpearman's correlation coefficient and a significant negative correlationwas observed with pT stage (r = −0.271*; p