Significance of p53 expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
OBJECTIVE
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are non-epithelial tumors originating from the gastrointestinal tract walls. They expose a wide spectrum of histological properties from benign to poorly differentiated malignant tumors.


METHODS
In this study 41 cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors were reviewed for p53 expression using immunohistochemical stains. Immunoreactivity properties of the tumors were compared to prognostic factors such as mitotic index, tumor size, tumor site, presence of necrosis, mucosal invasion, proliferative index, telomerase activity, hemorrhage, cellularity, and histological pattern.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in positive immunostaining of three case groups (12.2% in benign, 19.5% in borderline, and 68.3% in malignant group). Statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between p53 immunostaining properties and tumor size (p = 0.01), mitotic index (p=0.05), cellularity (p = 0.042), and diagnosis (p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that p53 expression may be a useful tool in classifying and predicting the prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors as it is well correlated with tumor size, mitotic index, cellularity, and diagnosis according to our study results.
Yalcinkaya
Ulviye
U
Department of Surgical Pathology, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey. u_yalcinkaya@yahoo.com
Yerci
Omer
O
Koc
Ebru Uzun
EU
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53