title: p53 protein overexpression, a frequent observation in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva and in various synchronous vulvar epithelia, has no value as a prognostic parameter.
abstract: In this study we have investigated the prevalence of p53 overexpression in various vulvar lesions and its significance as a prognostic parameter in patients with vulvar carcinoma. Overexpression of p53 was studied in 66 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva and in the following synchronous epithelial lesions: intraepithelial neoplasia grade I (VIN I) (n = 33), VIN II (n = 11), VIN III (n = 16), lichen sclerosus (n = 30), squamous cell hyperplasia (n = 37), normal vulvar skin of patients with vulvar carcinoma (n = 55), and in 18 samples of normal skin from healthy controls. Survival curves of the p53-positive and p53-negative patients were compared using the log-rank test. The use of DO7, and anti-p53 monoclonal antibody, showed p53 overexpression in 35 (53%) specimens of carcinoma, in eight (27%) of lichen sclerosus, in five (14%) of squamous cell hyperplasia, in six (18%) of VIN I, in two (18%) of VIN II, in two (13%) of VIN III, and in seven (13%) specimens of normal vulvar skin. Staining of normal skin from healthy controls showed no p53 positive specimens. No relationship between expression of p53 and disease-free survival in patients with vulvar carcinoma was present. In malignant, synchronous premalignant and non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva, p53 overexpression is a frequent observation, indicating that the latter two groups have characteristics of premalignant lesions. In addition, p53 overexpression was not a useful prognostic parameter for patients with vulvar carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kagie
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kenter
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tollenaar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Trimbos
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fleuren
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000378:metabolism; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*; D014844:Vulva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53