Tuberc Respir Dis.  1998 Apr;45(2):333-340.

The Significance of p53 Expression in Serum and Tissue from Patients with Lung Cancer

• Chang JH
• Sung SH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer over the world. P53 alteration is by far the most common genetic defect in lung cancer. The mutation of p53 protein involves the loss of inhibitory function of p53 related tumor suppressor gene and resultant oncogenesis. The analysis of p53 alterations consists of immunohistochemical stain, PCR based assay, or serologic ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
METHODS
Serum levels of p53 mutant protein were measured in 69 cases of lung cancer (adenocarcinoma n=29, epidermoid n=16, small cell n=13, large cell n=1, undifferentiated n=1, undetermined n=9) and 42 controls of respiratory disorders using ELISA. Immunohistochemical stain in tissue was performed using monoclonal antibody of p53 in lung cancer subjects.
RESULTS
Both serum p53s in nonsmall cell cancer (0.28+/-0.44ng/ml) and in small cell cancer (0.20+/-0.14ng/ml) were not different from controls (0.34+/-0.20ng/ml). Also there was no significant difference in serum p53 according to tumor stages. P53 immunohistochemical stain showed 50% positivity overall in lung cancer. There were no close correlation between serologic level and positivity of immunohistochemical stain.
CONCLUSION
The serologic determination of p53 mutant protein is thought to have no diagnostic role in lung cancer. Immunohistochemical stain in lung cancer specimen shows 50% positivity.

Keyword

p53; Lung cancer; Serologic

MeSH Terms

Carcinogenesis
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Genes, Tumor Suppressor
Humans
Lung Neoplasms*
Lung*
Mutant Proteins
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Mutant Proteins