[Flow cytometric measurement of p53 protein and DNA content in colorectal carcinomas with liver metastasis].

To investigate the possible relation between p53 protein, DNA content and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer, overexpression of p53 and DNA content were measured by flowcytometer in 113 primary lesions, which included 34 cases with simultaneous liver metastasis and 79 cases with curative resection, and 25 metastatic lesions of the liver. Overexpression of p53 and DNA aneuploidy were found in 44 (38.9%) and 77 (68.1%) of 113 primary lesions, respectively. However, p53 protein and DNA aneuploidy were unrelated to the clinicopathological findings, such as liver metastasis, venous invasion and lymph node metastasis. Comparing the overexpression of p53 protein between primary and metastatic lesions, p53 protein was recognized in 18 (72.0%) of 25 metastatic lesions of the liver. Incidence of p53 protein was significantly higher in metastatic lesions of the liver than in primary lesions (p < 0.01). On the other hand, p53 protein was found in 27 (60.0%) of 45 diploid lesions and in 35 (37.6%) of 93 aneuploid lesions. There was a significant difference in p53 protein between diploid and aneuploid tumors (p < 0.05). These results suggest that p53 protein may not correlate with the occurrence of liver metastasis and might be produced in the metastatic lesion of the liver after metastasis.