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Single‐strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP)‐detected p53 gene mutations are a less sensitive marker of malignancy in pleural fluids than p53 immunostaining
Author(s) -
Mayall F.,
Cursons R.,
Jacobson G.,
Chang B.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1365-2303
pISSN - 0956-5507
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2303.1999.00182.x
Subject(s) - immunostaining , single strand conformation polymorphism , malignancy , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , gene mutation , mutation , exon , medicine , gene , biology , cancer research , immunohistochemistry , genetics
Single‐strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP)‐detected p53 gene mutations are a less sensitive marker of malignancy in pleural fluids than p53 immunostaining p53 immunostaining has been advocated as a marker of malignancy in pleural biopsies and serous fluids. The object of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of p53 immunostaining for the detection of malignant cells in pleural fluids with a technique designed to detect p53 gene mutations in exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 by SSCP and nucleotide sequencing. Five out of eight pleural fluids containing adenocarcinoma showed p53 immunostaining and two of these also showed polymorphisms on SSCP and a mutation on sequencing. None of the 10 benign pleural fluids showed immunostaining for p53 or polymorphisms on SSCP. We believe that the poor sensitivity of p53 gene mutation by SSCP is mainly due to DNA from the background reactive cells ‘swamping’ the mutant DNA. We do not advocate its use as a diagnostic aid.