P53 PROTEIN ACCUMULATES IN CUSHINGS ADENOMAS AND INVASIVE NONFUNCTIONAL ADENOMAS

The p53 protein, a negative regulator of cell growth, plays an importa nt role in the pathogenesis of many human tumours following gene mutat ion and/or deletion. We screened a large number of sporadic pituitary tumours for p53 protein accumulation suggestive of gene mutation. Samp les were divided into benign adenomas (n=95) and invasive tumours with local or distant invasion (n=26). All main tumour classes were repres ented. Putative p53 mutations were detected by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections using polyclonal CM-1 and monoclonal DO-7 and PAb1801 antibodies. Results were compared to normal post-mortem pi tuitary tissue controls (n=17). p53 protein accumulation was detected in invasive tumours (16%), but only in corticotrophinomas (2/4) and no n-functional tumours (4/15). In non-invasive adenomas, protein accumul ation was observed only in ACTH-secreting tumours where 50% were posit ive (16/32). No protein accumulation was identified in any control tis sue. These results indicate that p53 protein accumulation may play a r ole in the development of Cushings adenomas and in the progression of non-functional tumours to the invasive state.