Expression of the retinoblastoma-related gene Rb2/p130 correlates with clinical outcome in endometrial cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The retinoblastoma gene is the prototype of tumor-suppressor genes and has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of several human malignancies. In this study, we determined the relation between the expression of a newly discovered retinoblastoma-related gene Rb2/p130 and outcome in patients with endometrial carcinoma.


METHODS
pRb2/p130 expression was determined immunohistochemically in specimens of endometrial carcinoma (stages I to IV) from 100 patients who underwent surgery as the first treatment. The pRb2/p130 status was analyzed in relation to the length of disease-free survival and disease-specific survival.


RESULTS
Decreased levels of pRb2/p130 in endometrial cancer cells was significantly associated with a decreased probability of remaining disease-free after treatment (P = .003) and with decreased probability of survival (P < .0001). In a multivariate analysis, pRb2/p130 status (P = .004), tumor stage (P = .009), and ploidy status (P = .02) were independent predictors of clinical outcome. The risk of dying of disease was increased substantially (risk ratio, 4.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.66 to 14.54) among patients with decreased levels of pRb2/p130 in tumor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with endometrial carcinoma who did not receive radiotherapy or chemotherapy before surgery, the presence of decreased levels of pRb2/p130 in tumor cells is associated with a significantly increased risk of recurrence and death of disease, independent of tumor stage and ploidy status.
Susini
T
T
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, University of Florence, Careggi Hospital, Italy.
Baldi
F
F
Howard
C M
CM
Baldi
A
A
Taddei
G
G
Massi
D
D
Rapi
S
S
Savino
L
L
Massi
G
G
Giordano
A
A
D000368:Aged; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011506:Proteins; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D050717:Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130; D015996:Survival Rate
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011506:Proteins; C493837:RBL2 protein, human; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D050717:Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130