Expression of p53 protein in colorectal carcinoids.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and prognostic significance of p53 protein expression in colorectal carcinoid tumors.


METHODS
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.
Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Y
JY
Cheng
L F
LF
Sheu
C L
CL
Meng
J C
JC
Lin
D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53