Improved immunohistochemical detection of p53 protein in paraffin - embedded tissues reveals elevated levels in most head and neck and lung carcinomas: Correlation with clinicopathological parameters

We have analyzed the expression of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in paraffin-embedded sections of normal and malignant head and neck and lung tumors by immunohistochemistry using the PAb 1801 monoclonal antibody (MAb). The PAb 1801 does not consistently detect its p53 epitope in tissue fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde. However, the antibody is effective in AMeX-fixed specimens, thereby permitting the improved morphologic localization of p53 phosphoprotein in paraffin embedded tissue. Of 33 primary head and neck carcinomas analyzed from AMeX-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections, 21 (64%) showed heterogeneous staining with PAb 1801. All 33 normal samples of head and neck tissues were negative. Similarly, 13 out of 20 lung carcinomas (65%) showed heterogeneous staining while none of normal lung tissues were positive. The data indicate a strong positive correlation between p53 detection by PAb 1801 and carcinomas of the head and neck and of lung. However, there was no obvious correlation between p53 staining and the number of involved nodes, the stage of disease or the degree of differentiation in these carcinomas.