Molecular analysis of p53 tumor-suppressor gene and microsatellites in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the colon and esophagus

Mutations in exons 4-8 of the p53 gene by the PCR-SSCP analysis in preneopl astic and neoplastic lesions of the colon (n=11) and esophagus (n=18) were screened. p53 overexpression by immunohistochemistry in 11 colonic lesions and 13 microsatellites, in all the patients (n=29), were also studied. A po sitive result concordancy between the three techniques was found in 1 adeno ma and 2 adenocarcinomas of the colon, each with loss of heterozygocity of microsatellites. Metaplastic lesions of esophagus showed biallelic mutation s and low frequency of microsatellite alterations. The relationship between genetic alterations in p53, microsatellites and type of colon and esophage al lesions is discussed.