Exploring the use of p53 protein expression as an indicator of oesophageal cancer severity from a high incidence rural area of Africa

BACKGROUND: The expression of p53 has been associated with the severity of other types of cancer. There is scanty information when it comes to oesophageal cancer. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the use of p53 protein expression as an indicator of oesophageal cancer severity from a high-risk incidence in the African rural population. METHODS: Fifty-one patients newly diagnosed with oesophageal cancer were recruited from the endoscopic unit at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, South Africa. The serological expression of p53 was measured using the ELISA method and the severity of oesophageal cancer expressed in grade was obtained from the histopathology report from patient's oesophageal biopsies. RESULTS: We found that the expression of p53 was equally distributed among the histological grades of cancer with the value of 2495 pg/mL ± 1736 pg/ mL for lower grades and 2520 ± 1539 pg/mL for higher grades. Furthermore, we found that the level of p53 expression was equally distributed in patients from grade 1, 2, 3, and 4. CONCLUSION: The expression of p53 protein does not vary according to the histological grade of oesophageal cancer in the given population, therefore may not be helpful as a prognostic factor.