Immunohistochemical Comparison of p53 Expression, Intensity and Distribution in Different Papillary Urothelial Cancers

Given the importance of differential diagnosis of different papillary urothelial cancers, expression, intensity and distribution of p53 were evaluated in different bladder cancers using immunohistochemistry.

In a retrospective study, archived samples of patients with different papillary urothelial cancers in Shohaday-e-Khalij Fars Hospital were selected. The samples were grouped according to the reported diagnosis into papilloma, low-malignant potential papillary tumors, low-grade papillary carcinoma, and high-grade papillary carcinoma. The samples were then immunohistochemically stained for p53. 

The majority of patients with papillary urothelial carcinoma were positive for p53. However, they were different in terms of intensity (p<0.001) and distribution (p<0.01). Low-malignant potential and low-grade malignant samples demonstrated low levels of p53 expression, whereas high-grade malignant samples exhibited high levels of its expression. Comparison of p53 distribution revealed focal expression in low-malignant potential group and diffused expression in malignant groups.

The results of this study suggest p53 expression, intensity and distribution as a useful marker for differential diagnosis and therapeutic management of different urothelial cancers.