ABSTRACT
P53 is a tumor suppressor gene which is mutated in 50% of human cancers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the protein status in the serum / urine and tumors of bladder cancer. This descriptive study was done on 38 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of bladder who had no history of chemo- or radiotherapy or immune system disease. The sera and urine of these patients were analyzed for P53 protein by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] and tissue P53 by Immunohistochemical Technique. Individul and laboratory data were collected in questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics and frequency distribution tables. Tissue P53 was detected in 29 of 39 [74.4%] patients, serum and urine P53 protein were detected in the serum and urine of 20 of 39 [51.3%] and 27 of 39 [69.2%] patients, respectively. The mean serum and urine P53 level in positive Tissue P53 patients were 1.45 and 2.27 U/ml respectively, which was significantly higher when compared with mean serum P53 level in negative tissue P53 patients [p< 0.01]. In patients with positive serum P53 [n=20] tissue P53 was positive in 18 [90%] patients and negative in 2 [10%], which was statiscally unsignificant. In negative serum P53 patients [n=19], tissue P53 was negative in 8[42%] patients and positive in 11 [58%]. In patients with positive urine P53 [n=27], tissue P53 was positive in 25 [93%] patients and negative in 2 [%7], which was statiscally unsignificant. Statiscally significant correlation was observed between tissue P53 with pathologic grade of tumor [p= 0.05], but for serum and urine P53 such correlation was not seen. This study shew a strong relationship between tissue P53 protein overexpression and level of P53 protein in serum and urine of TCC patients. Therefore both serum and urine of patients with TCC were found to have significant clinical accuracy for determination of P53 gene status in patients with TCC of bladder