p53 and DCC immunohistochemistry in curative rectal cancer surgery.
OBJECTIVE
In rectal cancer altered expression of p53 or DCC may be indicative of poor patient prognosis. This study determined by immunohistochemistry the tumour status of p53 protein and DCC protein in patients with rectal cancer who had a curative resection and were followed-up prospectively and examined the correlation to clinical and pathology variables.


METHODS
The study included 171 who had a curative resection for rectal cancer: 88 at Concord Hospital (CH) followed up for a mean of 11 years and 83 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) followed up prospectively for a mean of 4.3 years. Specimens were assessed by immunohistochemical assay of p53 expression ( n=170) and of DCC expression ( n=168).


RESULTS
p53 over-expression was demonstrated in 58% of CH tumours and 59% of RPAH tumours. Absence of normal DCC expression was demonstrated in 66% of CH tumours and 52% of RPAH tumours. On both separate and combined analysis of these groups there were no significant associations by univariate analysis between p53 expression or DCC expression or combinations of p53 and DCC expression and the pathology variables: extent of penetration through bowel wall, lymph node involvement, presence of venous invasion, and tumour differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The immunohistochemical p53 and DCC status of rectal tumours was not associated with other clinical or pathology variables, nor predictive of outcome.
Morgan
M
M
University of Sydney Surgical Outcomes Research Centre and Department of Colorectal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred and Concord Hospitals, Sydney, Australia.
Koorey
D
D
Painter
D
D
Findlay
M
M
Newland
R
R
Chapuis
P
P
Solomon
M
M
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D000075389:DCC Receptor; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000075389:DCC Receptor; C501909:DCC protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins