PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF P53 GENE-MUTATIONS IN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG

The aim of the present study was to analyze the prevalence and clinica l importance of p53 gene mutations in surgically treated squamous cell lung carcinoma. Sixty patients were included. Fifty-one patients in s tages I to IIIa were submitted to radical resection. Twenty-five sampl es tested positive for the p53 immunohistochemistry assay, and were an alyzed for p53 gene mutations. Eleven mutations were found. Patients h arboring p53 gene mutations suffered a higher incidence of recurrence and a higher mortality rate. Disease-free interval and overall surviva l were shorter for patients with mutated p53 gene (p=0.03 and p=0.005, respectively).