Background/aims: Alteration of p53 gene links to the appearance and detection of anti-p53 antibodies in the serum. The aim of this study is to find the clinicopathologic significance for serum presence of anti-p53 antibodies in patients with colorectal carcinoma.
Methodology: Serum presence of anti-p53 antibodies was examined for sera of 36 patients with colorectal carcinoma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Frequency of serum presence of anti-p53 antibodies was 47.2% (17 of 36). Incidence of lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion in tumors coexisting with serum presence of anti-p53 antibodies (70.6%, 12 of 17 and 94.1%, 16 of 17) were significantly higher than those in tumors without serum presence of anti-p53 antibodies (17.6%, 3 of 17 and 68.4%, 13 of 19; p = 0.007 and p = 0.041, respectively). Stages of the tumors were significantly more advanced in carcinomas coexisting with serum presence of anti-p53 antibodies (p = 0.023). Frequency in serum presence of anti-p53 antibodies among patients with tumors expressing p53 (73.7%, 14 of 19) was significantly higher than that among patients with tumors without p53 expression (17.6%, 3 of 17; p = 0.0005).
Conclusions: Preoperative serum appearance of anti-53 antibodies can be an indicator for more malignant potential of colorectal carcinoma.