The Sensitivity of Immunohistochemical Expression of p53 as an Indicator of the Malignant Potential of Gastric Hyperplastic Polyps: A Retrospective Study

Background: Hyperplastic polyps account for 30–93% of gastric polyps. Recently, there have been studies about the development of dysplasia in this type of polyp. Every cell in the body contains the p53 gene, which has anti-cancer properties. Objective: The sensitivity of immunohistochemical expression of p53 is evaluated among gastric hyperplastic polyps with and without dysplasia and gastric adenomatous polyps to know its usefulness as a diagnostic marker. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done on fifty formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of gastric polyps (44 hyperplastic polyps without dysplasia, 3 hyperplastic polyps with dysplasia, and 3 adenomas). Cases were collected from the archives of the pathology department from June 2019 to July 2023. Additional sections of the block were immunostained with P53 protein. Results: Fifty paraffin blocks from patients with gastric polyps (17 males, 33 females) were included in the study. 44 of the cases are classified as hyperplastic polyps, 3 as hyperplastic polyps with dysplasia, and 3 as adenomatous polyps. Most gastric hyperplastic polyps showed staining in different scores. All gastric hyperplastic polyps with dysplasia showed nuclear staining, whereas two out of three gastric adenomatous polyps showed no staining. Conclusion: There was no significant association between p53 protein expression and the type of gastric polyps, the presence of intestinal metaplasia, or H. pylori. However, it has a significant correlation with the size of the polyps.