[Comparison of nuclear accumulation of p53 protein with mutations in the p53 gene on the tissues of human breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To compare nuclear accumulation of p53 protein with mutations in the p53 gene on the tissues of human breast cancer.


METHODS
Fifty-four invasive ductal carcinomas of breast were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) silver stain and strep-avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (SABC) immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
A highly significant association between the presence of p53 gene mutation and nuclear accumulation of p53 protein was found (r = 0.714, P < 0.01). All 22 tumors with p53 gene mutations showed nuclear accumulation of p53 protein. Of the 32 tumors with gene mutations undetected, 9(28%) showed nuclear accumulation of p53 protein. Both p53 mutation protein and p53 gene mutations were prevalent in steroid and progesterone receptors negative tumors (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant association between the nuclear accumulation of p53 protein and lymph node invasion (P < 0.05). So did p53 gene mutations (P < 0.05). Therefore, p53 abnormalities might be associated with an aggressive phenotype in breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The immunohistochemical detection of nuclear p53 protein accumulation is highly associated with p53 gene mutations in breast cancer tissues. This method is useful for rapid screening of p53 abnormalities. In some cases of slightly positive for p53 nuclear protein we must observe p53 genemutations to avoid the false positive reaction.
Fan
P
P
Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029.
Wu
Z
Z
Cha
X
X
Wang
X
X
Wang
S
S
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53