Prediction of recurrence in B–C stages of colorectal cancer by p53 nuclear overexpression in comparison with standard pathological features

This study investigated the predictive value of p53 nuclear overexpression on recurrence of colorectal adenocarcinomas compared with established prognostic pathological features. Sixty-one paraffin-embedded sections from primary tumours were examined by immunohistochemistry. Specific nuclear staining was detected in 27 (44.2%) cases. Positivity was more frequent in tumours with venous invasion (76.9%) (P = 0.06) and in rectal cancer (68.4%) (P = 0.06). After a median observation time of 46 months, p53-positive tumours exhibited a higher percentage of recurrence (40.7% vs 11.7%) (P = 0.03), and a higher likelihood of relapse at 5-year follow-up (46% vs 13%) (P = 0.006). Among the pathological variables analysed, only the extent of bowel wall invasion showed a relationship with recurrence. After adjustment for the other covariates in a Coxʹs regression model, p53 overexpression was the only factor showing independent prognostic significance (hazard ratio: 4.96; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.47–16.71) (P = 0.012). The results of this study show that nuclear p53 protein overexpression has higher predictive value than standard pathological variables.