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Abstract Cancer is a group of heterogenous pathologic conditions in which cells grow abnormally and invade surrounding tissues and metastasize to other organs, the molecular mechanisms of cancer development are complex; multiple biologic changes resulting from the alterations of genes precede the development of human cancers. The P53 gene and its protein product have become the center of intensive study ever since it become clear that more than 50% of human cancers contain mutations in this gene. The P53 gene encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein that is found at low levels in virtually all normal cells. Mutant P53 proteins have a prolonged half life, accumulate in the nucleus and can be detected by immuno histochernical technique. In the present study, the expression of P53 was investigated immunohisto chemically in formalin fixed, paraffin sections from 28 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. The present study indicates that P53 tumour suppressor gene might be involved in the ovarian tumour genesis as it was not expressed in normal ovarian but was expressed in 60% of malignant cases. No significant correlation was found between P53 expression and patient’s age, reproductive state and parity and presence of residuals. The presence of mutant P53 protein was associated significantly with advanced stage and poorly differentiated turnours. |