[p53 protein in primary gastric carcinoma and coexisting metastases]

The expression of p53 protein was compared in primary gastric carcinomas and coexisting regional and distant metastases. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether p53 staining in regional lymph-node metastases might improve the value of p53 as a prognostic marker and determine the behaviour of its protein during gastric cancer progression.

60 gastric cancer patients were included into the study. In all patients the expression of p53 was assessed in primary tumours and in regional lymph-node metastases. Additionally in 12 patients the p53 expression was determinated in distant metastases. The number of all secondary tumours studied was 153. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded material and three-stage immunohistochemical methods were used.

p53 accumulation was detected in 24 (40%) of primary gastric carcinomas. In each patient p53 expression in primary regional and distant metastatic tumours was identical.

Our results show that assessment of p53 in lymphnode metastases does not improve prognostic value of p53 in gastric carcinoma and support the view that p53 alterations occur before and maintain during metastatic spread.