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We immunohistochemically investigated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive and
negative 31 malignant lymphomas (MLs) for p53 protein using a monoclonal
antibody which is expressed on a wild type and mutant human p53 protein. We
evaluated the presence of mutations in exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene using
single-strand confirmation polymorphism analysis. Overexpression of p53 was
detected in 13 out of 31 cases (41.9%) of MLs. However, we have documented the
presence of structural alterations of the p53 gene in six cases of MLs. The
presence of EBV infection in MLs was statistically unrelated to p53 protein
overexpression. Excellent correlation was found between p53 immunoreactivity and
histologic types of MLs. Even though the reason for discrepancy between p53 gene
mutation and p53 protein overexpression remains unclear, p53 protein
overexpression may be involved in the process of malignant transformation
regardless of EBV infection in MLs.