Expression of p53 Protein in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Relationships to Viral Infection and Prognostic Factors

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very common in Egypt due to the high incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationships between p53 and the viral infection as well as the prognostic factors in patients with HCC. p53 protein was examined by means of immunohistochemistry in tissue sections from 34 HCCs and 16 cirrhotic patients. p53 was expressed in 12 out of 34 HCCs (35%). All the 16 cirrhotic cases were p53-negative. No significant relationship was detected between p53 expression and the prognostic factors(P > 0.05). However, the level of p53 expression was significantly higher in patients coinfected with HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) than in those having single infection.