OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of P53 protein and its clinical significance in prostatic carcinoma.

METHODSFormalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 45 cases of prostatic carcinoma (PCa) and 10 cases of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) were analyzed retrospectively with immunohistochemical Elivision staining method. The relationship of P53 expression with prostate cancer stage, grade, PSA, endocrine therapeutic effect and prognosis was evaluated.

RESULTSThe positive staining rates of p53 protein expression were 51.1% and 10.0% respectively in patients with PCa and BPH (P < 0.05); 70.0% and 25.0% in PCa patients at pathological stage D and stages A approximately C respectively (P < 0.05); 14.3% and 56.7% in those with Gleason score < or = 7 and > 7 (P < 0.05); 20.0% and 60.0% in those with PSA < or = 10 microg/L and PSA > 10 micro/L (P > 0.05 ); 25.0% and 72.3% in those who responded to endocrine therapy and those who failed to respectively (P < 0.05). Log Rank analyses showed that the survival time of the PCa patients with negative P53 expression was obviously longer than those with the positive (P < 0.05 ).

CONCLUSIONThere were correlations between P53 expression and tumor grade, tumor stage and survival time, so the expression of P53 could be regarded as a prognostic molecular marker and a predictor of endocrine therapeutic effect for prostate cancer.