Aberrant expression of the tumour suppressor gene p53 is very frequent in Wilms' tumours.

A series of 34 Wilms' tumours have been analysed for abnormal expression of the tumour suppressor gene p53 using frozen section immunohistochemistry. All tumours showed immunoreactivity with at least one of the specific antibodies used (monoclonal antibody PAb240, polyclonal antibodies CM1 and JG8). Abnormalities of p53 expression are very frequent in this type of childhood tumour.