Expression of p53 in esophageal carcinoma with multiple areas unstained by iodine

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is occasionally associated with multiple areas in the surrounding mucosa unstained with iodine.

We examined 21 male patients with superficial esophageal carcinoma. Group 1 consisted of 4 cases of superficial esophageal carcinoma associated with multiple lesions that did not stain with iodine. Group 2 comprised 17 cases of a solitary tumor without major additional lesions in the mucosa. We assessed the correlation between clinicopathological factors, a history of tobacco and alcohol consumption, and p53 expression in the two groups.

We found four cases (group 1) of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma where there were a total of 10 satellite tumors in addition to the main tumor. These patients tended to have a higher daily consumption of tobacco and alcohol than those in group 2. Moreover in all these group 1 cases there was intraepithelial spread of the tumors and p53 overexpression in all of the main and additional tumors.

We have found that higher tobacco and alcohol consumption are closely related to multiple lesions unstained by iodine and abnormal expression of the p53 gene.