[A study on the loss of heterozygosity at 17p13.3 and abnormal expression of p53 protein in gastric carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of 17p13.3 loss and abnormal expression of p53 in the development and progress of gastric carcinoma.

METHODS

The loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 17p13.3 and abnormal expression of p53 gene were examined with PCR-RFLP and immunohistochemical methods in 51 surgical specimens of gastric carcinoma.

RESULTS

LOH at 17p13.3 was detected in 16/31 cases (51.6%) and positive staining for p53 protein was found in 19/51 cases (37.3%). No significant correlation was found between LOH at 17p13.3 and abnormal expression of p53 or between these two events in any clinicopathological parameters. LOH was found in one cases of early gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that LOH at 17p and abnormal expression of p53 protein are frequently found in gastric carcinoma and may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and progress of both intestinal and gastric types of gastric cancer.