Accumulation of p53 protein as an indicator for p53 gene mutation in breast cancer. Occurrence of false-positives and false-negatives.
Accumulation of p53 protein resulting in levels detectable by immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been proposed as an indicator of mutation of the p53 gene. We have investigated a panel of 23 fresh-frozen breast cancers by IHC (PAb 1801), Southern and Northern blot analysis, and direct sequencing of the mutation hot spot regions (exons 5-8) of the p53 gene. Three tumors (13%) showed an intense nuclear staining in the majority of malignant cells, but only one of these showed a mutation of the p53 gene (codon 237, Arg to His). Furthermore, a mutation (5-bp deletion) was identified in a tumor that showed no p53 immunoreactivity. Our results indicate that accumulation of p53 protein, as detectable by IHC, is not a reliable indicator for p53 gene mutation in human breast cancer.
Lohmann
D
D
Institute of Pathology, GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, Neuherberg, Germany.
Ruhri
C
C
Schmitt
M
M
Graeff
H
H
Höfler
H
H
D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53