Analysis of macroscopic appearance and p53 expression in superficial esophageal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between macroscopic appearance of superficial esophageal carcinoma, with particular attention to the horizontal and vertical extent of tumor growth, clinicopathologic findings and p53 expression.


METHODS
Eighty-seven patients with superficial esophageal carcinoma were divided into three groups: 1) group A, patients with protruding or distinct depressed lesions (n = 28); 2) group B, patients with superficial and flat lesions > or = 5 cm in length (n = 45); and, group C, patients with superficial and flat lesions (5 cm in length (n = 14). Tumors were examined immunohistochemically for p53 expression.


RESULTS
The incidence of submucosal invasion, lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion was significantly higher in group A than in groups B and C. The rate of p53 expression was significantly lower in group B than in the other two groups. The prognosis in groups B and C was better than that in group A.


CONCLUSIONS
Vertical extent was more strongly associated with tumor depth, lymph node metastasis and prognosis than was horizontal extent, although p53 overexpression was related to both the vertical and horizontal extent of tumors. Analysis of the macroscopic appearance of superficial esophageal carcinoma is useful in choosing treatment strategies.
Natsugoe
S
S
First Department of Surgery, Kagoshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Nakashima
S
S
Kijima
F
F
Shimada
M
M
Kusano
C
C
Yoshinaka
H
H
Baba
M
M
Takao
S
S
Aikou
T
T
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53