Expression of p53 protein in glandular differentiation admixed with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
BACKGROUND
Glandular differentiation in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is occasionally recognized by serial histologic investigations. We previously performed histopathologic investigations of such tumors and suggested the possibility of field carcinogenesis in esophageal cancer.


METHODS
In the current study, we performed an immunohistochemistry analysis for p53 protein in such cases to investigate the mode of carcinogenesis from the view point of genetic changes. p53 protein expression in both ordinary squamous cell carcinoma and glandular differentiation of nine cases to demonstrate the coexistence of these components.


RESULTS
The expression of p53 in the areas of squamous cell carcinoma was diffusely detected in three and focally in two (five in all, 55.6%) and, in these five cases, p53 was also positive in the areas of glandular differentiation in four cases. On the other hand, the expression of p53 in the glandular components was negative in all four tumors with p53 negative squamous cell carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The process of carcinogenesis within the tumor was thought to be similar in almost all cases even in the different histopathologic components.
Kuwano
H
H
Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Sumiyoshi
K
K
Sonoda
K
K
Kitamura
K
K
Tsutsui
S
S
Toh
Y
Y
Kitamura
M
M
Sugimachi
K
K
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53