THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GENE MUTATION OF P53 AND THE PROTEIN EXPRESSION OF P53 AND KI-67 IN NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS

The relationship between the mutation of the p53 gene and the expressi on of the p53 protein and the Ki-67 antigen has been investigated in 1 15 cases with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, using the immunohistochemical do uble staining technique, single-strand conformational polymorphism and DNA sequencing methods. Eighteen cases showed more than 10% of p53(+) cells and the others showed a few p53(+) cells presented sporadically , Alterations in the p53 gene were detected in six cases with B cell t ype, consisting of five cases with point mutation and one case with po int mutation and 15 base pairs deletion. These six cases showed a high percentage of p53(+) cells and five cases revealed that the percentag e of p53(+) cells was higher than that of Ki-67(+) cells (p53(+) cells > Ki-67(+) cells). Excluding the six cases with mutation of the p53 g ene, ail cases revealed that the percentage of p53(+) cells was less t han that of Ki-67(+) cells (p53(+) cells < Ki-67(+) cells). Moreover, there was a positive correlation between expression of the p53 protein and of the Ki-67 antigen in histologic types of B cell lymphomas and of T cell lymphomas, respectively, except in small non-cleaved (Burkit t's) and lymphoblastic types. Therefore, sporadic cases showing p53(+) cells > Ki-67(+) cells revealed alteration of the p53 gene, and expre ssed abnormal p53 protein (mutant form), Most cases showing p53(+) cel ls < Ki-67(+) cells expressed normal p53 protein (wild type), and may reflect the rapid proliferation rate.