p53 overexpression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue detected by immunohistochemistry.
Mutation and overexpression of the p53 gene have been noted in a wide range of human cancers and are thought to play a role in malignant transformation. Previously, immunohistochemical detection of p53 has been possible only in fresh-frozen tissues. We examined p53 expression in paraffin-embedded tissues from 50 epithelial ovarian cancers and 25 primary breast cancers with a modified immunohistochemical (IHC) technique developed in this laboratory, using monoclonal antibody (MAb) PAb1801. The 75 cases were selected from a group of patients in whom the expression levels had already been assessed in a fresh-tissue IHC assay. An identical staining reactivity was observed in both formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue and fresh-frozen tissue in 48 of 50 (96%) epithelial ovarian cancers and in 23 of 25 (92%) primary breast cancers. Immunodetection of p53 in paraffin-embedded tissue blocks will be a useful alternative to the standard fresh-tissue assay and can accurately reflect the level of p53 expression in human tumors.
Kerns
B J
BJ
Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
Jordan
P A
PA
Moore
M B
MB
Humphrey
P A
PA
Berchuck
A
A
Kohler
M F
MF
Bast
R C
RC
Iglehart
J D
JD
Marks
J R
JR
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D016610:Tissue Embedding; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53