Overexpression of p53 protein in gallbladder carcinoma in North India

Aims: p53 mutations are one of the most frequent genetic alterations in hum an cancers and are thought to play a role in pathogenesis of several malign ancies. Overexpression of p53 in gallbladder cancer has not previously been reported from North India which has one of the highest incidence of this m alignancy in the world. The present work is aimed at studying the overexpre ssion of P53 in gallbladder carcinoma occurring in North India. Methods: p53 overexpression by immunohistochemistry was studied in 20 opera tive specimens of gallbladder carcinoma. The clinico-pathological observati ons of these patients were correlated with the extent of p53 overexpression . Results: Seventy per cent (14/20) of specimens of gallbladder carcinoma ove rexpressed p53 protein. There was a significant correlation between presenc e of gallstones, T stage. grade of tumour and liver invasion with p53 overe xpression. There was no significant correlation with other factors studied viz. age, sex, nodal status and histological type. Conclusions: The results show a strong association between gallstones and p 53 protein overexpression in gallbladder carcinoma. The causal relationship in this association, however, still remains unproven.