Expression Of P53 And P73 Proteins In Epithelial Ovarian Tumors And Its Significance

Objective As the first relative of p53 gene which is a classic tumor suppressor gene, p73 has the similar structure and function like p53. We study expression of p53 and p73 proteins in epithelial ovarian tumors and its clinical significance.Methods The expression of p73 and p53 proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry in 54 cases of epithelial ovarian tumors consisting of 8 cases of benign tumors, 12 cases of borderline tumors and 34 cases of malignant tumors and 10 cases of ovarian normal tissues. The relationship was observed among p73 protein expression and FIGO stage of cancer, histological type, pathological grade and overexpression of p53 protein. All of malignant tumor patients had received no radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone drugs before surgery.Results 1 Expression of p53 protein were found in ovarian carcinoma tissues with a positive immunohistochemical staining rate of 58.82% which is significantly more than that in normal ovarian tissues (0%), benign tumors (0%) and borderline tumors (8.33%). Expression of p53 was correlated to malignant degree or FIGO stage of cancer. Expression of p53 protein in advanced stage cancers with 72% positive rate was significantly more than that in early stage cancers with 22.22% positive rate (p<0.05). 2 Expressionof p73 protein were found in ovarian carcinoma tissues with a positive immunohistochemical staining rate of 50% which is significantly more than that in normal ovarian tissues (0%), benign tumors (12.5%) and borderline tumors (16.67%). Expression of p73 was correlated to malignant degree of cancer but no significant relationship was observed among p73 protein expression and FIGO stage of cancer, histological type and pathological grade (p>0.05). 3 14 of the 20 cases whose p53 expression was positive were also stained positive for p73 protein. In contrast, in the rest of 14 cases without any detectable p53 protein, 11 were stained negative for p73 protein. Expression of p73 was significantly correlated to that of p53(p<0.05).Conclusion Both p73 and p53 proteins play an important role in the development of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The expressions of p73 and p53 in ovarian carcinoma are significantly correlated.