IS P53 OVEREXPRESSION THE RISK FACTOR FOR METASTASES IN EARLY INVASIVE COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

Aim: To elucidate whether p53 overexpression correlates with the metas tatic potential and other adverse prognostic factors in colorectal ear ly invasive carcinomas (EIC). Methods: Overexpression of p53 protein i n the primary tumour was examined immunohistochemically in 50 patients with EIC, Results: p53 overexpression was detected in the primary tum ours of 20 patients (40%), The overexpression was found in: a/7 (78%) of 9 metastasizing EIC and in 13 (32%) of 41 nonmetastatic cases (p = 0.0207); b/10 (71%) of 14 superficial (type II) lesions vs. 10 (28%) o f 36 protruding (type I) ones (p = 0.0089); c/12 (57%) of 21 moderatel y differentiated adenocarcinomas vs, 8 (28%) of 29 well-differentiated adenocarcinomas (p = 0.0451), The p53-positive metastasizing tumours showed features corresponding to the characteristics of early carcinom a arising de novo, Conclusion: p53 overexpression in EIC is associated with the enhancement of their metastatic potential and determinations of p53 protein could be helpful for the choice of therapeutic option.