SERUM ANTI-P53 ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OFTHE ESOPHAGUS - COMPARISON WITH P53 ALTERATIONS AND LYMPH-NODE INVASION

Immunoassay of serum anti-p53 antibodies was performed in a series of 63 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. p53 alterat ions were also analyzed with DGGE to detect gene mutations (n=53) and by immunohistochemistry to assess overexpression of p53 (n=43). An imm une response was observed in 16 sera (25%). The corresponding biopsies all had a p53 gene mutation or overexpression of protein p53. We were unable to demonstrate any significant relationship between habitual t umor parameters (localization, cell differentiation, TNM stage) and de velopment of p53 alterations. However, none of the patients with a loc alized tumor developed an immune response, while some of them had a mu ted gene or overexpressed p53.