CONTRIBUTION OF P53 GENE ALTERATIONS TO DEVELOPMENT OF METASTATIC FORMS OF FOLLICULAR THYROID-CARCINOMA

Alterations of p53 suppressor gene as a possible indicator of the meta static potential of thyroid carcinomas were evaluated in a cohort of 4 5 thyroid carcinomas. Well-differentiated papillary and follicular car cinomas were evaluated; the poorly differentiated and the undifferenti ated forms were excluded from the studies. Tumors were divided into tw o groups: those giving no metastasis for > 10 years and those developi ng metastasis within 5 years. Gene alterations were tested by immunocy tochemical detection of p53 gene expression and by determining loss of heterozygosity (LOH), Considering the two methods together, p53 damag es were observed in two out of 11 papillary carcinomas without metasta sis (18.1%), one out of nine papillary carcinomas with metastasis (11. 1%), two out of 14 follicular carcinomas without metastasis (14.2%), a nd five out of II follicular carcinomas with metastasis (45.4%). Stati stical chi(2) test showed significantly (p = 0.05) only between follic ular carcinomas with and without metastasis thus p53 damage may have a n impact for metastatic potential of follicular thyroid carcinomas.