Objective To investigate the possible interaction between the ras and p53 genes overexpression in thyroid carcinoma, and whether there is correlation between the ras and p53 overexpression and clinico-pathological criteria. Methods Thyroid lesions from eighty patients were examined for expression of ras and p53 genes by the LSAB immunohistochemistic method. Of these patients, 54 were diagnosed as malignant lesions and 26 benign nodular thyroid disorders. Results The positive immunostain rate for ras and p53 genes was 90.7%, 23.0% and 55.5%, 30.7% in carcinoma and benign lesions respectively with statistically significance between thyroid carcinomas and benign disorders (Ｐ＜0.05). Both ras and p53 overexpressions coexisted in 30 thyroid carcinomas and follow-up showed that 3 of them died and 5 of them had recurrence within 4 years.Conclusion Activation of ras gene and inactivation of p53 gene are cooperatively associated in thyroid tumorigenesis. The concurrent overexpression of ras and p53 could result in a poor prognosis.
