Expression of P53 protein in primary uveal melanoma

Malignant melanomas are the commonest intraocular tumours. The aim of the present study was the immunohistochemical analysis of P53 protein expression in 39 primary ocular melanomas treated surgically in the years 1983-1997. Expression of P53 was estimated semiquantitatively with the use of a light microscope at a magnification of x 400. At least 200 neoplastic cells per sample were analysed. The expression of P53 in 3% of melanoma cells was considered the threshold of positive reaction. The results were subjected to statistical analysis with exact Fischer's test. No statistically significant correlations were found between P53 expression and anatomoclinical properties of tumours, although increased P53 expression was observed in epithelioid-cellular melanomas and in tumours growing in women. A lack of statistically significant relationship between P53 protein level and the parameters examined, and morphological specificity of ocular melanomas hindering immunohistochemical analysis, indicate the necessity for studies on a wider group of tumours or/and use of molecular biology techniques to establish possible relations between P53 gene mutation and ocular melanoma biology.