Relationship of Serum Anti-p53 Antibody with p53 Expression in Liver Tissue of Chronic Diseases

Kim, Young Soo; Shin, Young Jun; Hahm, Ki Baik; Wang, Hee Jung; Jin, Yun Mi; Cho, Sung Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The p53 mutations have been described as the most common genetic alteration during development and progression of malignancy in a wide range of human cancers. Mutant p53 proteins have a prolonged half-life accounting for increased levels of p53 protein frequently detected in tumors. This can induce the production of anti-p53 in the senzn of patients with HCC. We determined the relationship of serum anti-p53 with p53 expression in the liver tissue of chronic liver disease and the correlation of serum anti-p53 with serum alpha- fetoprotein(AFP) in patients with HCC.
METHODS
In sera of same patients, we analysed the anti- p53 using ELISA system As controls we tested 50 healthy individuals and 20 patients with chronic hepatitis. Immaiohistochemical study for the presence of mutant p53 was performed on liver tissue from 50 patients with cirrhosis and 30 patients with HCC using monoclonal antibody clone DO-7 and LSAB kit by ABC method.
RESULTS
Anti-p53 was positive in 9(30%) of 30 patients with HCC. Among nine patients with positive anti-p53, only two patients had detectable p53 expression in their tumor tissues. Anti-p53 was positive in 5(10%) of 50 patients with liver cirrhosis. The AFP was elevated in 21(70%) of 30 patients with HCC. Among the 9 AFP- negative HCC patients, 4(44.4%) were found to be positive for anti-p53. P53 expression was detectable in 9(30%) of 30 HCCs and 1(3.3%) of RO surrounding non-tumorous cirrhotic tissues.
CONCLUSION
Mese findings suggest that anti-p53 was not correlated with the status of p53 expression in liver tissue and serological testing for anti-p53 antibody may be complementary to serum AFP for diagnosing of HCC with normal serum AFP.