Expression of p53 protein in colorectal carcinoids
J. Y. Cheng, L. F. Sheu, C. L. Meng and J. C. Lin
Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and prognostic significance of p53
protein expression in colorectal carcinoid tumors. DESIGN: Thirty-one
paraffin-embedded specimens of colorectal carcinoid tumor were studied by
immunohistochemical staining to detect p53 protein expression. The
association of p53 expression with tumor site, tumor size, invasion level,
tumor stage, DNA pattern, and patient survival were analyzed. RESULTS: p53
protein was detected in five (16%) of 31 colorectal carcinoid tumors. There
was a correlation between p53 overexpression and tumor site, tumor size,
tumor stage, and DNA ploidy (P < .05) but not for the depth of tumor
invasion (P = .06). In addition to tumor size, invasion, stage, and DNA
aneuploidy, p53 protein overexpression was also indicative of a poor
prognosis (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The overexpression of p53 protein is
uncommon in colorectal carcinoid tumors. However, the expression of p53
protein has a correlation with clinicopathologic-predicting criteria in
colorectal carcinoid tumors and may be used as an associated prognostic
parameter to assess patient survival.
