PI3K/AKT Immunoexpression Influences the Prognostic Factors of Patients Diagnosed with Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common histological type in the oropharynx with high incidence and mortality. The Pi3K-AKT signaling pathway is important for understanding prognostic factors such as metastasis, which is involved in the aetiopathogenesis of cancer and is associated with angiogenesis, progression, and cell survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of the Pi3K/AKT pathway with prognostic factors associated with oropharyngeal SCC, including overall survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed and treated for oropharyngeal SCC at the Haroldo Juaçaba Hospital were included in the study. Clinicopathological and socio-demographic data were collected by reviewing patient records and reports. Excisional biopsies were analyzed by immunohistochemical techniques using TMA for the detection of antibodies against ANTI-AKT, ANTI-Pi3K, ANTI-p16, ANTI-Ki67, and ANTI-p53. Immunoexpression was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively using ImageJ software, and data were correlated with patient survival. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in nuclear Pi3K immunoexpression in perilesional tissue compared to primary tumors and nodal metastases (p<0.001). Cytoplasmic Pi3K was increased in primary tumors and decreased in nodal metastases (p=0.001). pAKT expression in p16-negative tumors was associated with poorer overall survival. Further studies are needed to understand how this pathway may influence tumor progression and multimodal therapies. CONCLUSION: The PI3K/AKT pathway regulates cell survival and apoptosis and is associated with the malignant transformation of oropharyngeal tumors. AKT expression in p16-negative tumors is a strong predictor of poor prognosis.