EXPRESSION OF P53 PROTEIN IN GLANDULAR DIFFERENTIATION ADMIXED WITH SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS

Background: Glandular differentiation in. squamous cell carcinoma of t he esophagus is occasionally recognized by serial histologic investiga tions. We previously performed histopathologic investigations of such tumors and suggested the possibility of field carcinogenesis in. esoph ageal cancer. Materials and Methods: In the current study, we performe d an immunohistochemistry analysis for p53 protein in such cases to in vestigate the mode of carcinogenesis from the view point of genetic ch anges. p53 protein, expression in. both ordinary squamous cell carcino ma and glandular differentiation of nine cases to demonstrate the coex istence of these components. Results: The expression of p53 in, the ar eas of squamous cell carcinoma was diffusely detected in three and foc ally in. two (five in all, 55.6%) and, in, these five cases, p53 was a lso positive in the areas of glandular differentiation in four cases. On, the other hand, the expression of p53 in the glandular components was negative in all four tumors with p53 negative squamous cell carcin oma. Conclusions: The process of carcinogenesis within the tumor was t hought to be similar in almost all cases even in the different histopa thologic components.