Association of p53, p16, and vascular endothelial growth factor protein expressions with the prognosis and metastasis of gallbladder cancer

Background: Tumor suppressor genes were studied in gallbladder disease incl uding cancer for correlation. VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) exp ression was assessed against Nevin staging and metastasis of gallbladder ca rcinoma. The importance of p53, p16, and VEGF in gallbladder cancer was est imated. Study design: Twenty-four gallbladder carcinomas, 20 gallbladder adenomas, and IS chronic cholecystitis specimens were immunohistochemically and histo pathologically investigated for the relation of p53, p16, and VEGF to Nevin staging and pathologic grading. Results: The expression rate of abnormal p53 in gallbladder carcinomas was significantly higher than that in gallbladder adenoma and chronic cholecyst itis (p=0.003, p=0.014). The expression rate of abnormal p53 in Nevin stagi ng S-1, S-2, S-3 gallbladder carcinoma was significantly higher than that i n S-4, S-5 (p=0.01). Abnormal p16 was highest in carcinoma, next in adenoma , and lowest in chronic cholecystitis (p=0.031, p=0.017). Gallbladder carci noma expressed VEGF far more often than adenoma or cholecystitis (p=0.001); VEGF-positive rates were lower in S-1, S-2, S-3 than S-4, S-5 by Nevin sta ging of gallbladder cancer (p=0.044). Conclusions: Mutation of p53 and p16 genes might correlate with progression of of gallbladder carcinoma. Analysis of p53 and p16 can estimate the prog nosis of gallbladder cancer. VEGF expression correlates with Nevin staging in gallbladder cancer. (J Am Coll Surg 2001;193:380-383. (C) 2001 by the Am erican College of Surgeons).