title: p53 and related proteins in epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: We conducted a retrospective immunohistochemical evaluation of the prognostic significance of the expression of p53 and the related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, growth arrest and DNA damage (Gadd45), murine double minute 2 (Mdm2) and p21(WAF1/CIP1) in chemonaive tumours taken from 66 patients with ovarian cancer. Ki-67 expression (a marker of cell proliferation) was also evaluated immunohistochemically, while apoptosis within malignant cells was determined with the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay. The expression of each of the following proteins was significantly associated in the tumours (P < 0.05 unless otherwise stated): Bax with Bcl-2 (P < 0.01); Bax with Mdm2; p21(WAF1/CIP1) with Gadd45 (P < 0.01); p21(WAF1/CIP1) with p53; p53 with Mdm2. Univariate analysis showed that expression of p53, Bax, bulk residual disease and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetricians (FIGO) stage were all strongly correlated with response to chemotherapy (P < 0.01). Similarly, the FIGO stage and Ki-67 expression (P < 0.01), as well as pathological subtype and bulk residual disease (P < 0.05), were prognostic factors for disease progression. The FIGO stage and Ki-67 expression were significant prognostic factors for overall survival (P < 0.01), with Gadd45 expression and pathological subtype also significant (P < 0.05) in a univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis for response to chemotherapy showed that expression of p53, Bax and FIGO stage were all independent prognostic factors (P < 0.01). The FIGO stage was the most important independent prognostic factor for progression and survival on multivariate analysis (P < 0.01). However, Ki-67 expression was also an independent prognostic factor for disease progression (P < 0.05) and approached significance for survival (P = 0.055). Taken together, these data suggest that determination of Ki-67 expression could supplement established prognostic factors.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Campaign Department of Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital National Health Trust, Withington, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: McGown
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bajaj
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blackhall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swindell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bromley
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Slade
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Jayson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein