P53 EXPRESSION IN HUMAN SMALL-INTESTINAL TUMORS

Expression of the tumor supressor gene product p53 in thirteen human s mall intestinal tumors was examined employing an immunohistochemical t echnique. The level of p53 was analysed using the monoclonal antibody pAb240. Six out of thirteen tumors (46%) including one lymphoma, one a ngiosarcoma of the jejunum, one leiomyosarcoma, one adenocarcinoma of the small intestine and two metastatic adenocarcinomas of the colon we re found to have p53 overexpression. This is the first demonstration o f p53 expression in small intestinal tumors. These results indicate th at the p53 gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of small intestina l tumors.