title: p53, DCC and thymidylate synthase as predictors of survival after resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer is a common problem. Hepatic resection offers the only chance of cure. Prognosis of patients following hepatic resection is currently based on clinicopathological factors (of both the primary cancer and the hepatic metastasis), which do not accurately predict the subsequent behaviour of the tumour. The aim of this study was to evaluate three molecular genetic markers - p53, DCC (deleted in colonic cancer) and thymidylate synthase - in both the primary colorectal tumour and the resected hepatic metastases, and to determine their correlation, if any, with survival in patients with resected hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three patients with hepatic metastases and 40 corresponding colorectal primary tumours were studied using immunohistochemical staining for p53, DCC and thymidylate synthase, as well as p53 gene mutations using polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. The results were correlated with survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no correlation between p53, DCC or thymidylate synthase immunohistochemical staining, or between p53 PCR-SSCP analysis, and survival for either hepatic metastases or the colorectal primary tumour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prediction of prognosis in patients having resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer continues to be problematic. Other genetic markers or combination of markers need to be evaluated.
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney Department of Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: R P M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Saw
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koorey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Painter
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase