p53 expression is common in malignant mesothelioma

The p53 tumour suppressor gene has been shown to be frequently mutated in a wide range of human neoplasms. This is accompanied by increased levels of p53 protein which become immunologically detectable in pathological material. We have investigated the possibility that the differential diagnosis between reactive and neoplastic mesothelium might be resolved using a polyclonal serum raised to human p53 protein, CM-1. None of 20 cases of reactive mesothelial proliferation showed p53 immunoreactivity while 70% (14 of 20) of cases of malignant mesothelioma showed p53 staining. We can thus infer that abnormalities of p53 appear to be a common event in malignant mesothelioma and that p53 immunostaining may be of value in the distinction of malignant mesothelioma from reactive hyperplasia.