Retinoblastoma gene product and P21 (WAF1, CIP1) protein expression in non Hodgkin's lymphomas: a multivariate survival analysis.
We evaluated immunohistochemically the expression of two negative regulators of the cell cycle, namely retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) and WAF1/Cip1 gene product (p21), in paraffin sections from 93 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and related it to clinicopathological parameters, proliferative fraction, p53 expression and survival. Patients were followed until death (n=33) or for an average of 52 months (60-160). Rb labelling index (LI) increased with malignancy grade and proliferative activity but was unrelated to other clinicopathological parameters. In 33% of cases, especially those of the aggressive groups, we observed diminished pRb expression (i.e. low pRb/Ki-67 ratio). p21 expression on the other hand correlated only with histological grade, Rb LI and p53 LI. In multivariate analysis, Rb LI was a negative predictor of disease-free survival but was linked to a higher probability of complete response. However, diminished pRb expression as well as p21 expression were not statistically significant prognostic indicators. Our results suggest that pRb as a cell cycle related molecule may play an important role in determining prognosis and therapeutic response in NHL patients.
Korkolopoulou
P A
PA
Department of Pathology, University of Athens, Greece.
Angelopoulou
M K
MK
Kontopidou
F N
FN
Patsouris
E V
EV
Christodoulou
P N
PN
Kittas
C N
CN
Davaris
P
P
Pangalis
G A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016161:Genes, Retinoblastoma; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins