[Quantitative analyses of DNA content and P53 gene product expression from epithelial lacrimal gland tumors].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the significance of quantitative analyses of DNA content and P53 gene product expression which are applied for pathological diagnosis of epithelial lacrimal gland tumor. METHODS Flow cytometry (FCM) and immunofluorescence staining technique were used to quantitatively measure the DNA content and expression of P53 gene product from 39 cases with epithelial lacrimal gland tumors. RESULTS It is indicated that the pleomorphic adenomas still possess of the properties of DNA diploid of normal lacrimal gland cell, but malignant tumors are characterized by DNA aneuploidy. There is a significant difference in the content of expression of P53 gene product between pleomorphic adenomas and malignant tumors (P < 0.001). The content of expression of P53 gene product is positively correlated to the DNA content, and both are increasing with the reduction of tumor tissue differentiation. CONCLUSION Quantitative analyses of DNA content and expression of P53 gene product may provide objective indexes for the pathological diagnosis of epithelial lacrimal gland tumor.