Immunohistochemical detection of p53 protein could improve the management of some patients with Barrett esophagus and mild histologic alterations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the usefulness of p53 immunostaining in identifying the subgroup of patients with Barrett esophagus who may be at increased risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.


METHODS
Tissue samples of 41 patients with Barrett esophagus and available sequential histologic data were processed for p53 immunostaining. Results from each patient were compared over time, and the results of a subset of patients were compared with each other.


RESULTS
We observed a significant correlation between the percentage of samples with p53 expression and the severity of dysplasia. Moreover, in a subset of patients with mild dysplasia (cases classified as showing indefinite dysplasia), we observed a statistically significant difference in the percentage of p53-positive samples between the group that progressed to more severe dysplasia and the group that did not progress.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that this procedure, which is technically simple, economical, and quick, could play a role in the evaluation and follow-up of patients with Barrett esophagus.
Giménez
A
A
Department of Pathology, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain.
de Haro
L M
LM
Parrilla
P
P
Bermejo
J
J
Pérez-Guillermo
M
M
Ortiz
M A
MA
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53