Comparison of flow cytometry and histology with mutational screening for p53 and Ki-ras mutations in surveillance of patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis.
BACKGROUND
We evaluate the usefulness of screening for p53 and Ki-ras mutations in comparison with histological and flow cytometric findings.


METHODS
We analyzed 1486 biopsy samples from 769 locations of 83 patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis enrolled in a surveillance program by means of histology, flow cytometry and SSCP analysis. As a control we used 66 biopsy samples of 16 patients with irritable bowel disease.


RESULTS
With respect to all biopsy samples analyzed, DNA aneuploidy was found in 32.5% (27/83) of patients, dysplasia in 22.9% (15/83), p53 in 21.7% (18/83) and Ki-ras mutations in 18.1% (15/83) of patients. None of these markers was found in our control group. In 7 out of 10 patients who displayed dysplastic findings during endoscopic surveillance p53 and / or Ki-ras mutations were present in at least one colonoscopy. Statistically significant associations were observed between dysplasia and DNA aneuploidy (P < 0.001), between dysplasia and p53 mutations (P = 0.05) and between dysplasia and p53 and/or Ki-ras mutations (P = 0.002). No significant associations were found between dysplasia and Ki-ras mutations alone. The results for the SSCP analysis showed a much broader variation than those for the flow cytometric analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that screening for p53 and Ki-ras mutations can be a useful adjunct in surveillance of patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis.
Holzmann
K
K
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Abt. Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Germany. karlheinz.holzmann@uni-tuebingen.de
Weis-Klemm
M
M
Klump
B
B
Hsieh
C J
CJ
Borchard
F
F
Gregor
M
M
Porschen
R
R
D000782:Aneuploidy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
D004247:DNA