p53 protein expression as prognostic factor in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostatic cancer

Abstract

The authors give preliminary data on the evaluation of the p53 protein expression as prognostic factor in patients subjected to radical prostatectomy for prostatic cancer. p53 protein immunohistochemical nuclear staining was carried out on neoplastic tissue obtained from systematic sextant prostatic biopsies at the time of diagnosis. Out of 46 Patients 15 (32%) were p53 positive (p53+). No statistical correlation was observed between P53 staining, preoperative PSA and pathological Gleason Score, while the rate of patients with nodal involvement (pN+) was higher in the p53+ group than the P53- group with low statistical significance (p<0.03). The authors cannot yet evaluate Progression time and survival because the mean follow-up of the patients is still too short (30 months). The study is still in progress.