Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore the hepatic tumor suppressor protein (Tp53) and nucleotide binding oligomeric domain like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) levels in patients with gallbladder cancer and their impact on tumor metastasis after surgical resection. Methods 60 patients with gallbladder cancer and 50 patients with cholecystitis were encountered in our hospital between January 2020 and January 2024, and all underwent cholecystectomy. Patients with gallbladder cancer were followed-up for 2 years. Hepatic Tp53 and NLRP3 mRNA were detected by PCR. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was applied to find impacting factors. Results Tp53 and NLRP3 mRNA in cancerous tissues were (1.2±0.2) and (1.0±0.2), both much higher than [(0.8±0.2) and (0.6±0.1), respectively, P<0.05] in gallbladder tissues; by end of two-year follow-up after operation, tumor relapse or remote metastasis was found in 17 cases(28.3%); tumor Tp53 and NLRP3 mRNA level in patients with metastasis were (1.4±0.3) and (1.2±0.2), both significantly higher than [(0.9±0.1) and (0.7±0.1), respectively, P<0.05] in those without tumor metastasis; multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high levels of tumor tissue Tp53(OR=3.554) and NLRP3(OR=3.155) were both the independent risk factors for tumor relapse or remote metastasis (P<0.05). Conclusion High tumor tissue Tp53 and NLRP3 levels might hint susceptibility of tumor relapse or remote metastasis after operation in patients with gallbladder cancer, which needs further investigation.

Key words: Gallbladder cancer, Cholecystectomy, Tumor suppressor protein 53, Nucleotide binding oligomerization domain like receptor protein 3, Metastasis