ABSTRACT
AIM:To study the relationship between expression of p53 protein and AgNORs count and histological grade in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.METHODS:Fifty-six patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 25 normal pancreatic tissue were examined for mutant P53 protein by immunohistochemistry,silver binding nucleolar organizer regions(AgNORs)were counted in cancer cells,and histological grade was observed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.RESULTS:P53 protein positive expression was 50% in pancreatic adenocarcinoma,P53 protein expression was negative in all normal pancreatic tissue.There is a significant difference in P53 expression between normal pancreatic tissue and pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissue.The mean AgNORs count was 9.14?2.08 in group with P53 protein positive expression,and 5.99?1.84 in group with P53 protein negative expression group.The P53 expression was associated with AgNORs significantly.The P53 expression was significantly related with histological grade,and AgNORs count was also significantly related with histological grade.CONCLUSION:P53 may be closely related to carcinogenesis and development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.P53 protein expression and AgNORs count might be a useful prognostic factor in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.