Up to now there is no reliable tool for prediction of tumor biological behavior and therapeutic response to indicated therapy. Percentage of p53 mutations in H&NSCC is reasonably increased. Nevertheless, the prognostic value of common p53 mutation in H&NSCC has not been evaluated so far. Study objective: to find a correlation of tumor suppressor p53 mutation incidence in H&NSCC determined by immunohistological assay and FASAY (functional analysis of separated alleles in yeast) fucntional test with grading, staging, tumour localization and overall survival rate. Materials and methods: specimen of 50 patients with H&NSCC mostly resected during oncosurgery or obtained fromprobatory excision were included in the study. Gene p53was functionally analyzed by FASAY and mutation incidence by immunostaining with D07 Dakocymation monoclonal antibody. Results: Gene p53 mutation incidence determined by FASAY, respectively immunohistochemicaly, is 62%, respectively 64%. A statistical evaluation revealed a significant correlation between results of both methods (p=0.0024). Even though FASAY showed closer correlation with clinical parameters, easily available immunostaining could be used in clinical praxis and FASAY fits better for research purposes. Gene p53mutation incidence didn’t correlate with proliferative parameters, i.e. grading, Ki-67 or T-category of TNM classification at all. However, gene p53 showed limiting correlation (p=0.06) with metastatic potential. We concluded that the higher incidence of p53 mutations the higher frequency of metastases. Patients with high incidence of p53 mutations empirically had shorter survival rate, but statistical results revealed no significant correlation. Conclusion: In accordance with other studies, we concluded that p53 prognostic value should be considered limiting. However, we pressume further research on biomarkers like gene p53 very promising.

        Key words: tumour supressor p53 mutation, H-NSCC, prognosis.