['Biologic significance of p53 protein expression in gastric carcinomas is unclear. The relationship between p53 expression and survival after curative operations for gastric carcinoma was evaluated.', 'Paraffin-embedded specimens from 135 patients who underwent curative resection of gastric carcinoma were analyzed immunohistochemically for p53 expression.', 'Immunoreactivity of p53 was found in 37 of 135 gastric tumors. Six of 48 early gastric carcinomas expressed focally scattered p53. Pattern of p53 expression in the majority of advanced carcinomas was diffuse. In univariate analyses a significant relationship with survival was found for tumor size (p < 0.01), depth of invasion (p < 0.01), nodal involvement (p < 0.01), and p53 expression (p < 0.01). Significant relationships were found between p53 expression and nodal involvement (p < 0.01) and depth of invasion (p < 0.01). A multivariate analysis revealed that the independent predictors of recurrence were nodal involvement (p = 0.009) and depth of invasion (p = 0.009). In a logistic multiple regression analysis p53 expression was not independently related to the parameters, which suggests an aggressive tumor.'] Is expression of p53 protein in gastric carcinomas independently prognostic?