Background/aims: p53 protein expression in gallbladder carcinoma has recently been detected by immunohistochemical techniques, but the relationship between p53 expression and prognosis or clinico-pathological factors is still obscure.
Materials and methods: We investigated 48 gallbladder carcinoma, 7 adenoma and 11 dysplasia cases for p53 expression by immunohistochemical techniques.
Results: p53 expression was positive in 39.6% of gallbladder cancer cases, but in no adenoma or dysplasia cases. No significant correlation was found between p53 overexpression and prognosis or recurrence in 20 patients with carcinoma involvement up to the subserosal layer. p53 overexpression was correlated with DNA aneuploidy pattern and the absence of stones, but was not correlated with clinical staging or lymph node metastasis.
Conclusion: These results suggest that p53 gene mutation is related to the transition from premalignancy to malignancy in gallbladder carcinogenesis, as well as DNA ploidy alterations and carcinogenesis unassociated with gallstones, but has no bearing on the prognosis.