[Expression of transforming growth factor alpha and p53 in non-small cell lung cancer by immunohistochemical study]

Primary non-small cell lung cancer samples were examined for the expression of p53, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) and its receptor EGF-R by immunohistochemistry. Accumulation of p53 protein was found in 15 out of 24 carcinomas. Meanwhile, the results of TGF-alpha and p53 expression in 21 carcinomas showed that p53 protein was not detected in 2 out of 2 TGF-alpha negative and 4 out of 5 TGF-alpha low expression cases. However, there was no relationship found between EGF-R and p53 expression in these cases. The results suggest that p53 may have some effects on TGF-alpha expression.