Expression of p53 protein in gastric carcinomas is not independently prognostic.

BACKGROUND

Biologic significance of p53 protein expression in gastric carcinomas is unclear. The relationship between p53 expression and survival after curative operations for gastric carcinoma was evaluated.

METHODS

Paraffin-embedded specimens from 135 patients who underwent curative resection of gastric carcinoma were analyzed immunohistochemically for p53 expression.

RESULTS

Immunoreactivity of p53 was found in 37 of 135 gastric tumors. Six of 48 early gastric carcinomas expressed focally scattered p53. Pattern of p53 expression in the majority of advanced carcinomas was diffuse. In univariate analyses a significant relationship with survival was found for tumor size (p < 0.01), depth of invasion (p < 0.01), nodal involvement (p < 0.01), and p53 expression (p < 0.01). Significant relationships were found between p53 expression and nodal involvement (p < 0.01) and depth of invasion (p < 0.01). A multivariate analysis revealed that the independent predictors of recurrence were nodal involvement (p = 0.009) and depth of invasion (p = 0.009). In a logistic multiple regression analysis p53 expression was not independently related to the parameters, which suggests an aggressive tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that p53 expression did not correlate with the aggressiveness of gastric carcinomas and failed to be an independent predictor of outcome.