Mutants of p53 gene presence in laryngeal carcinoma and adjacent histopathologically normal tissue

Possible differences were analyzed between histopathological and molecular biological findings in laryngeal cancer tissue and its adjacent normal tiss ues. p53 gene mutations were detected in histopathologically normal tissue both with in 0.5 cm of a nd more than 0.5 cm distant from the nearest cance rous tissue. Since the p53 mutation was common in both cancer tissue and ad jacent normal tissue, the gene mutation may play an important role in laryn geal carcinogenesis. Radical excision of the tumor is defined by histopatho logical limits, but 'normal' tissue may nevertheless contain the gene mutat ion, giving rise to the danger of further cancer development. We suggest th at the determination of the surgical margin should be based on a combinatio n of histopathology and molecular biological findings. Copyright (C) 2000 S . Karger AG. Basel.