Flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemical staining for the p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in submucosal carcinoma of the esophagus.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the role of p53 gene and tumor proliferating activity using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus with invasion restricted to the submucosa. Their DNA contents and microscopic histopathological aspects were also studied.


METHODS
Thirty-four submucosal SCC were studied histopathologically including immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analysis.


RESULTS
DNA diploid was observed in 15 (44.1%) and DNA aneuploid in 19 (55.9%) cases. DNA ploidy patterns were relatively closely correlated with survival. Staining for the p53 product was positive in 61.8% of all cases. The average PCNA labeling rate (LR) was 55.9 +/- 16.7%. The incidence of lymph node metastasis was relatively higher in DNA aneuploid and high PCNA LR (> or = 50%) groups. There was, however, no significant correlation between p53 protein expression and lymph node metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that DNA aneuploid and high PCNA LR are unfavorable characteristics and that p53 expression may not have a prognostic value.
Kimura
H
H
Department of Surgery, Toyama Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan.
Konishi
K
K
Maeda
K
K
Yabushita
K
K
Kuroda
Y
Y
Tsuji
M
M
Miwa
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53