Immunoexpression of p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in penile carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We examined p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunoexpression as prognostic factors to the outcome of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis in 50 patients.


METHODS
Penectomy and lymphadenectomy were performed in 14 patients with clinically positive nodes while 36 with cN0 disease were treated with penectomy and kept under surveillance that resulted in subsequent lymphadenectomy due to nodal relapse in 8. Of 21 patients with confirmed nodal metastases 18 died of disease. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed via the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method and the results were compared with tumor pT stage, grade, nodal status and cause specific death.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining showed association only with nodal metastasis (p = 0.04) while p53 staining exhibited correlation with tumor pT stage (p = 0.0005), grade (p = 0.02), lymphatic spread (p = 0.02) and cause specific survival (p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that p53 immunoreactivity was the only factor with prognostic significance for disease progression and cause specific survival. Tumor pT stage, grade and proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining had no significance for nodal metastases and cause specific death.


CONCLUSIONS
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining had no prognostic value for disease progression. Since p53 over expression was associated with tumor progression and cause specific death, perhaps it should be evaluated in staging and therapeutic planning for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.
Martins
Antonio C P
AC
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes #3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, CEP:14048-900.
Faria
Sandro M
SM
Cologna
Adauto J
AJ
Suaid
Haylton J
HJ
Tucci
Silvio
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53