Overexpression of p53 protein in basal cell carcinomas of human skin.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common human cancer, but its molecular-genetic pathogenesis is unclear. In many other types of cancer, mutations of the tumor-suppressor gene p53 occur frequently and may lead to overexpression of a long-lived mutant form of p53 protein. In this study, overexpression of p53 protein was detected immunohistochemically in 30 (83%) of 36 specimens of BCC of the head and neck. The same regions of tumor typically were reactive both with a monoclonal antibody (PAb240) specific for the mutant protein and with one (PAb1801) directed against an epitope common to both wild-type and mutant p53 protein. Keratinocytes of chronically sun-exposed epidermis adjacent to BCCs also focally overexpressed p53 protein in the majority of cases, whereas those of sun-protected buttock skin did not. Mutation of p53 may form an important part of the pathogenetic sequence in a majority of cases of BCC.
Shea
C R
CR
Department of Pathology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021.
McNutt
N S
NS
Volkenandt
M
M
Lugo
J
J
Prioleau
P G
PG
Albino
A P
AP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53