Immunohistochemical staining for the p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in familial clustering of gastric cancer

Purpose of this study was to assess the role of p53 gene and tumor proliferating activity in familial clustering of gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Among 344 patients who underwent resections for gastric cancer, 10 patients had two or more gastric cancer-affected, first-degree relatives. We classified them as the group of gastric cancer with family history (FGC). Eighty-seven patients with gastric cancer who had no relatives with any malignant neoplasm were classified as the sporadic group. The paraffin-embedded specimens were stained immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies against the p53 product and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Results: There was no significant difference in any clinicopathologic factor and the PCNA labeling index between the two groups. Staining for the p53 product was positive in 80% of the FGC group and in 38% of the sporadic group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that overexpression of p53 protein is one of the familial factors that correlates with carcinogenesis in the stomach. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.