Objective: Alterations of the p53 gene have been widely suggested to be relevant to the development of endometrial carcinoma. However, contradictory results have been reported when immunohistochemical determination of p53 expression has been correlated with stage and histological features of the tumours.
Study design: Pathology findings were reviewed and p53 immunoperoxidase staining was performed in 240 cases of endometrial carcinoma.
Results: Uterine papillary serous adenocarcinomas showed significantly higher p53 overexpression than uterine endometrioid adenocarcinomas (100.0% versus 61.0%, p<0.005). p53 overexpression was significantly higher in the secretory variant (85.7%) than in the typical endometrioid carcinoma (60.0%) (p<0.05). p53 expression did not differ between early (stage I) and advanced (stage II-IV) carcinomas. Likewise, no difference was observed in p53 expression among different architectural grades. The incidence of metastasis to lymph nodes was similar in p53 positive (13.7%) and in p53 negative tumours (12.5%).
Conclusion: In the present series, p53 immunostaining did not differ between cases with different FIGO stages or histologic characteristics of the tumours. No simple relationship exists between the immunohistochemical determination of p53 expression and the biological aggressiveness of endometrial carcinomas.