Study of relationship between p53 protein stability and pathological parameters in colorectal cancer by immunohistochemistry method

ABSTRACT

Genetic damages and dietary habits play important parts in colorectal cancer [CRC]. p53 protein, a product of p53 gene, is the most important tumor suppressor. The rate of p53 mutation and expression has been variously reported across anatomical regions. p53 protein has a short half-life which tends to increase with mutation and is likely to be traced by immunohistochemistry. This study is intended to determine the p53 protein stability by pathological parameters across different areas in CRC. This descriptive analytical research was conducted on 80 CRC cases admitted to Hospital in Isfahan, Iran from 2003 to 2007. p53 expression was detected by immunohistochemical methods in the samples after fixation, tissue processing and antigen retrieval. The obtained data were analyzed using chi-square. of the 80 specimens investigated, p53 protein stability was observed in 27 specimens [34%]. No significant relationships were observed between p53 protein stability and tumor staging, differentiation and anatomical regions [colon and rectum] but the relationship between protein stability and mutation was significant. p53 protein stability was observed in many mutated samples. Therefore, p53 protein detection in Cancer cases can be considered an important symptom of mutation signifying the prognosis and progress of cancer