p27(Kip1) loss does not predict survival in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
p27(Kip1) is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor whose loss is associated with disease progression and an unfavorable outcome in several malignancies. The authors studied its expression in a consecutive series of resected gastric carcinomas.


METHODS
Expression of p27(Kip1) in 71 advanced gastric carcinomas and 10 lymph nodes containing metastases was determined using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method. The relations between p27(Kip1) expression and pathologic features, patient characteristics, and survival were analyzed.


RESULTS
p27(Kip1) levels in gastric carcinomas ranged from 0.63-82.97% (median, 23. 10%; mean, 27.99%). There was no association found between p27(Kip1) expression and patient gender (P = 0.21), patient age (P = 0.13), tumor stage (P = 0.17), tumor grade (P = 0.22), or histologic type (P = 0.72). Univariate analysis showed that long term survival was related to stage (P < 0.0001) and grade (P = 0.03). However, tumors with p27(Kip1) levels above and below the median value were associated with a similar outcome, regardless of whether all cases (P = 0.19) or those without metastatic disease (P = 0.50) or those with residual or metastatic disease (P = 0.92) were included. When entered into a multivariate analysis, stage (P < 0.0001) and grade (P = 0.05), but not p27(Kip1) levels (P = 0.16), were found to be related to patient outcome. In lymph node metastases, p27(Kip1) expression (median, 16.5%) was similar to that found in the corresponding primary lesion (median, 30.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
p27(Kip1) may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma, but its expression is unlikely to be useful as a prognostic indicator, at least in European patients with advanced disease.
Feakins
R M
RM
Department of Histopathology and Morbid Anatomy, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom. rmfeakins@mds.qmw.ac.uk
Mulcahy
H E
HE
Quaglia
A
A
Jawhari
A
A
Zhang
Z
Z
Patchett
S E
SE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27