Prognostic value of p53 protein expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

In this study, we investigated endoscopic biopsy material consisting of 76 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas after immunostaining with three p53 monoclonal antibodies (PAb 1801, PAb 240, and DO-7). p53 protein was detected in 51.3% of the tumours. The protein was not expressed in the normal mucosa. Statistical analysis of follow-up data on 54 patients showed that high p53 levels were to a significant degree frequently associated with unfavorable treatment response (p < 0.053) and death (p < 0.05); whereas expression of the protein was not correlated with tumor differentiation, DNA ploidy, S phase value, EGF-R expression, or Ki67 index. The results of these studies suggest that in cases of esophageal carcinoma, immunohistochemical detection of p53 protein can be used to predict outcome.