Is p53 gene mutation an indicatior of the biological behaviors of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma?
Sheen IS; Jeng KS; Wu JY Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. AIM: To evaluate mutant p53 gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma and to investigate the correlation between it and the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Mutations of p53 gene were examined using anti-human p53 monoclonal antibody and immunohistochemical staining in 79 resected hepatocellular carcinomas. The correlations among variables of p53 positivity and invasiveness, disease free interval and survival were studied. In addition, in those who developed recurrence, the correlation among p53 positivity, clinical features and post-recurrence survival were also studied. RESULTS: Of these 79 cases, 64 (81 %) had p53 mutation. Those patients with mutant p53 positivity had significantly more tumor recurrence (76.6 % vs 40.0 %, P=0.0107). However, the COX proportional hazards model showed that p53 overexpression had only weak correlations with recurrence free interval and survival t
