Anal carcinoma: a clinical approach to p53 and RB gene proteins

The role of p53, retinoblastoma (RB) and c-erbB-2 gene proteins in the pathogenesis of anal carcinomas has been examined. A total of 97 patients were included in the study. c-erbB-2, RB and p53 proteins were abnormal in 0, 5 and 34% of the cases, respectively. No correlation was observed between p53 and age, sex, tumour stage, histopathological tumour grading, human papilloma virus (HPV) affection or prognosis. It is concluded that the c-erbB-2 gene is not involved in the development of anal carcinomas; the role of the RB gene is somewhat uncertain, while p53 may be involved in about 1/3 of the cases. However, p53 is not correlated with HPV infection or clinical or histopathological data.