Mutant p53 and TP53 mutations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: consistency and diagnostic significance

TP53 mutation is an initiating event in tumorigenesis in many cancers. Mutant p53 expression is an important manifestation of TP53 mutations, however, this association has not yet been confirmed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study comprised three components. The first was screening for TP53 mutations using whole-exome sequencing (WES) or whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The second was identifying mutant p53 expression by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining to explore the association between mutant p53 expression and TP53 mutations. The third was assessing the diagnostic value of mutant p53 expression in patients with ESCC.