Serum Anti-p53 Antibodies, Expression Of P53 Geneand Differentiation Of Primary Hepatic Carcinoma

Background: It has been reported that the levels of serum anti-p53 antibodies elevated abnormally in patients with malignant tumors, and that such antibodies were associated with p53 gene mutations, abnormal accumulation of p53 protein in tumor tissue and aberrant biological behavior of the tumor. Until now, the prevalence of serum anti-p53 antibodies in primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) and tumor differentiation are not well studied in Chinese patients.Aim: To detect the distribution of anti-p53 antibodies and expression of p53 protein in PHC (rate of positivity), and the correlation between anti-p53 antibodies or p53 protein and differentiation of PHC, for the postulation of the interrelationship of p53 gene mutation with differentiation of PHC.Methods: The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to analyze serum anti-p53 antibodies and streptavidin peroxide(SP) immunohistochemistry was used to detect accumulation of p53 protein in tumor tissues of PHC patients. The level of serum p53 antibodies and expression of p53 protein in tumor tissues were analyzed using univariate statistic method,respectively, to assess their correlation to pathological differentiation degree of the same PHC patient.Results: Of the 80 PHC patients, a total of 26(32.5%) were detected positive for serum anti-p53 antibodies. SP immunohistochemistry was performed in 73 cases of PHC,and 36(49.3%) cases were detected positive for expression of p53 protein in tumor tissues. Univariate analysis revealed that positive status of serum p53 antibodies and expression of p53 protein in tumor tissues were associated with poor differentiation of the tumor.Conclusion: Positive status of serum p53 antibodies and expression of p53 protein in tumor tissues were associated with poor differentiation of PHC.