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Implications of p53 protein expression in clear cell sarcoma of the kidney
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Abstract:
Eight histologically-confirmed cases of clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) were studied for possible mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene by the immunohistochemical demonstration of mutant p53 proteins using a monoclonal (DO7: Dako) and a polyclonal (AB565: Chemicon) antibody to p53 protein. All cases exhibited p53 protein nuclear immunopositivity, although in varying numbers of tumor cells and with different staining intensities. p53 protein (DO7 or AB565) was expressed in < 25% of the tumor cells in four (50%) of the cases, including the one case with a known long term survival of 13 years from the time of diagnosis. The other tumors showed p53 protein immunopositivity in > 25% of the tumor cells when stained with either DO7 or AB565 or both. The intensity of staining, graded on visual impression into weak, moderate or strong, did not correlate well with the ratio of positive staining tumor cells. While this study is unable to clarify the relative prevalence and importance of p53 mutational events in the pathogenesis of this aggressive renal tumor of childhood, it is reasonably suggestive that alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene do occur in CCSK.
Insights
Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) showed p53 protein nuclear immunopositivity in all cases. While not definitively clarifying p53 mutations, this suggests alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene occur in this aggressive pediatric renal tumor.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Pathology
- Pediatric Nephrology
Background:
- Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is an aggressive pediatric renal tumor.
- The p53 tumor suppressor gene plays a critical role in various cancers.
- Mutations in p53 are implicated in the pathogenesis of many tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential involvement of p53 tumor suppressor gene mutations in CCSK.
- To assess the expression of mutant p53 proteins in CCSK tissues.
Main Methods:
- Histologically confirmed CCSK cases were analyzed.
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect mutant p53 proteins.
- Monoclonal (DO7) and polyclonal (AB565) antibodies against p53 protein were utilized.
Main Results:
- All eight CCSK cases exhibited p53 protein nuclear immunopositivity.
- p53 protein expression varied in the number of tumor cells and staining intensity.
- Four cases (50%) showed p53 protein expression in < 25% of tumor cells, including one long-term survivor.
- The remaining four cases displayed p53 protein immunopositivity in > 25% of tumor cells.
Conclusions:
- Alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are suggested in CCSK.
- Further research is needed to clarify the prevalence and importance of p53 mutations in CCSK pathogenesis.
- The findings indicate a potential role for p53 in the development of this aggressive childhood renal tumor.