BACKGROUND
Although the role of p53 in the evolution and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) has been extensively examined, the exact mechanism of action is incompletely understood. In the last years, p53-target genes were supposed to be involved in the p53 pathway. One of them is the tumor-suppressor gene Maspin, which codifies the protein with the same name. Maspin activity depends on its subcellular localization. To our knowledge, the possible role of
TP53
gene in Maspin subcellular localization, in GC cells, has not yet been studied in a large number of human samples.
AIM
To evaluate the possible role of wild-type and mutated p53 in Maspin subcellular localization.
METHODS
The present study included 266 consecutive patients with GC in which
TP53
gene status, and mutations in exons 2 to 11, respectively, were analyzed and correlated with immunohistochemical expression of p53 and Maspin.
RESULTS
None of the 266 cases showed mutations in exon 9. The rate of
TP53
mutations was 33.83%. The mutation rate was slightly higher in distally-located GCs, with a lower degree (≤ 5 buds/ high power fields) of dyscohesivity (
P
< 0.01). The wild-type cases had a longer survival, compared with mutant GCs, especially in patients without lymph node metastases, despite the high depth of tumor infiltration (
P
= 0.01). The Dukes-MAC-like staging system was proved to have the most significant independent prognostic value (
P
< 0.01). The statistical correlations proved that
TP53
gene mutations in exon 7 might induce knockdown of Maspin, but wild-type p53 can partially restore nuclear Maspin expression and decrease the metastatic potential of gastric adenocarcinoma cells.
CONCLUSION
Downregulated Maspin might be induced by mutations in exon 7 of the
TP53
gene but wild-type p53 can partially restore nuclear Maspin expression. These findings should be proved in experimental studies.