Relationship between tumor suppressor gene p53 and tumors of adipose tissue

Objective To investigate the relationship between p53 gene and tumors of ad ipose tissue at the level of protein and gene. Methods Immunohistochemical LSAB, PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing were used in 82 cases. Results p53 protein is expressed only in liposarcomas, in which the positiv e staining rate was 48.08% (25/52). In different subtypes of liposarcomas, the positive staining rate in well differentiated liposarcomas was 30.00% ( 9/30), which is much lower than that of the poorly differentiated liposarco mas (P < 0.005). Abnormality in the single-stranded DNA pattern was determi ned in 2 samples (pleomophic liposarcomas) by PCR-SSCP analysis. Missense m utations in exon 8 codon 268 of p53 gene (AAC-->ATC) were detected by DNA s equencing. Another heterozygotic cosense mutation may exist at exon 6 codon 221 of p53 gene (GAG-->GAA). Conclusions The data suggest that the p53 protein has a relationship with d evelopment, differentiation and malignancy of liposarcoma. Detecting the le vel of p53 protein expression may be valuable in evaluating the level of di fferentiation and malignancy of liposarcoma. Them appear point mutation on exon 8,6 of p53 gene.