Significance of p53 Overexpression in the Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer

Chang, Yeo Goo; Hong, Seong Woo; Kang, Yun Kyung; Nah, Yang Won; Chang, Surk Hyo; Paik, In Wook; Lee, Hyuk Sang

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The long-term survival of patients with colorectal cancer is largely dependent upon the cancer metastasis. The authors analyzed the association between p53 overexpression and metastasis. METHODS: We evaluated p53 overexpression in colorectal cancer tissue of 41 patients by immunohistochemical staining method. Twenty patients showed no metastasis over a 5 years period postoperatively. Ten patients had synchronous metastasis and 11 patients showed metachronous metastasis. RESULTS: p53 protein was overexpressed in 35% (7) of the patients (11) with non-metastatic tumors and 71% of the patients with metastatic tumors (p<0.05). The p53 overexpression rates were 11% in cases of right colon cancer, 61% in cases of left colon cancer and 75% in cases of rectal cancer (p<0.05). Excluding the patients with synchronous metastasis, the patients with p53 overexpressed tumors had worse prognosis than those without p53 overexpression, and the 5-year survival rate was 53% in the patients with p53 overexpression and 94% in the patients without p53 overexpression, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: p53 overexpression seems to be a good prognostic factor for the cancer metastasis as well as the survival of the patients with colorectal cancer.