Mutant p53 protein in the serum of patients with cervical carcinoma: correlation with the level of serum epidermal growth factor receptor and prognostic significance

We have previously reported that the serum level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was significantly elevated in 38 cervical carcinoma patients. The levels of mutant p53 protein were determined in the serum of the same cohort (invasive or recurrent carcinoma: 26, carcinoma in situ (CIS): 12) and 18 controls using ELISA. The median serum level for mutant p53 in cervical carcinoma patients (0.11 ng/ml; range, 0–2.66 ng/ml) demonstrated no significant difference compared to that of controls (0.14 ng/ml; range, 0–0.34 ng/ml) (P=0.324). Serum mutant p53 showed positive elevation in 5 patients with invasive or recurrent carcinoma (19%) and 1 with CIS (8%). A significant correlation was found between EGFR and mutant p53 levels (r=0.668; P<0.0001). In invasive or recurrent cervical carcinoma, positive mutant p53 was significantly associated with poor overall survival in both univariate (P=0.035) and multivariate (P=0.046) analysis, while increased level of EGFR did not show prognostic significance (P=0.755). Serum mutant p53 could have potential usefulness as a biological marker of cervical carcinoma for prediction of prognosis and follow-up after treatment.