Prognostic significance of p53 mutation in surgically treated colorectal cancer: a prospective study using direct sequencing method

Abstract

    To evaluate the clinical significance of p53 mutations, we analyzed the relationship of several clinicopathologic factors to the clinical outcomes in 131 colorectal cancer patients. Exons 5 to 9 of the p53 gene were studied by the direct sequencing method with capillary electrophoresis. A total of 47 mutations of p53 were found, in 45 of 131 cases (34%). Mutations were statistically associated with lymphatic invasion (p=0.03) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.02). Kaplan-Meier survival curves for the patients with p53 mutations were likely to exhibit shortened survivals, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.078). In our evaluation of each exon in relationship to survival, p53 mutations in exon 7 correlated significantly with poor prognosis (p=0.041). In multivariate analysis, p53 mutation emerged as an independent marker for prognostic hazard ratio=1.650 (p=0.015). However, exon 7 mutations were not related to survival, as well other exons and specific type of mutations. Investigation of p53 mutation overall was considered to be a clinically useful approach for determining the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.