ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the role of p53 gene mutations and deletion events in 46 patients with colorectal cancer [histologically diagnosed]. Immunohistochemistry and PCR/SSCP [polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformational polymorphism] were used to improve the accuracy of the currently used staging systems. P53 mutations were found in 25/46 cases. The majority of gene mutations were found in tumors from the left colon. There was no statistical relation between P53 gene mutations reported and Dukes staging. Meanwhile, there was a significant statistical relation between p53 gene mutations and the prognosis of the cases. The study showed that codon 175 was the most unstable one and that nucleotide mutation CGC to CAC was the commonest mutation form. The application of p53 mutation gene analysis may have clinical implications in colorectal cancer patients. However, the study of other genes involved in colorectal cancer is necessary