Prognostic significance of p53 overexpression after hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
p53 mutation is the most common genetic abnormality in human cancers. However, although it has been reported that p53 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with the aggressive behavior of tumor, the prognostic significance of p53 overexpression in HCC remains controversial. The aims of the present study were to examine the correlations between p53 overexpression and the clinicopathologic parameters of HCCs, and to determine the prognostic significance of p53 overexpression in HCC.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analysis of p53 overexpression was performed in 105 consecutive cases of HCC who underwent curative hepatic resection. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate analysis of outcome predictors for HCCs was assessed by logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
p53 overexpression was observed in 20 of 105 HCCs (19.0%). Multivariate analysis identified significant correlations between p53 overexpression and microvascular invasion (p=0.027), liver cirrhosis (p=0.035), 1-year survival rate (p=0.016), multiple tumors (p=0.014), and the presence of tumor capsule (p=0.010). The 2-year survival rate was poorer in patients without tumor capsule (p=0.043).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show a positive association between p53 overexpression and microvascular invasion in HCC, and indicate that p53 overexpression is a poor prognostic factor of survival, especially within 1 year after liver resection in HCC patients.
Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Chang Okh
CO
Sung
Byung Chul
BC
Yoo
Kwang Cheol
KC
Koh
Jae-Won
JW
Cho
Cheol Keun
CK
Park
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53