Proliferation and p53 expression in anal cancer precursor lesions.
BACKGROUND
Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) develops from dysplastic anal warts. This study quantifies the expression of p53 and Ki67 in pre-invasive and invasive anal lesions.


METHODS
Samples of 70 patients with anal warts (n = 20), low grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (LG AIN) (n = 12), high grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (HG AIN) (n = 27) and anal SCC (n = 11) were stained using immunohistochemical techniques. Eight patients with normal anal skin were used as controls.


RESULTS
Both the expression of p53 and Ki67 increased significantly (p < 0.001) and gradually as the lesions became dysplastic and invasive. The main increase in p53 expression was as the lesions progressed from anal warts (7.38 +/- 11.93-mean +/- SD) to low grade AIN (20.778 +/- 13.14).


CONCLUSIONS
p53 is involved in the progression of anal cancer and its expression increases from early in the development of pre-invasive anal lesions. p53 and Ki67 may be useful markers of early dysplasia and should be considered in the screening of high risk patients.
Mullerat
J
J
Department of Surgery, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, U.K. p.mullerat@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
Deroide
F
F
Winslet
M C
MC
Perrett
C W
CW
D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014860:Warts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53