Prognostic relevance of altered pRb and p53 protein expression in surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The prognostic value of pRb and p53 altered expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains debatable. We assessed the occurrence of altered pRb and p53 protein expression, and the prognostic value of these assays considered as separate and combined variables in operable NSCLC. The study group included 195 NSCLC consecutive patients from one institution who underwent curative pulmonary resection between 1994 and 1999.


METHODS
Expression of pRb and p53 was assessed immunohistochemically with the use of monoclonal antibodies (LM95.1 and Pab 1801, Oncogene Science, respectively).


RESULTS
A lack of pRb and abnormal p53 protein expression were found in 57 (29%) and 92 samples (47%), respectively, whereas both abnormalities (pRb-/p53+) occurred in 24 samples (12%). There was no relationship between altered pRb/p53 expression and major clinico-pathological characteristics, neither was there a significant difference in disease-free and overall survival between particular groups of patients with tumors carrying four possible pRb/p53 phenotypes. In uni- and multivariate analysis, the only variable associated with shortened disease-free and overall survival was stage of disease (p < 0.001) and degree of tumor differentiation (p = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that altered pRb and p53 expression does not provide prognostic information in operable NSCLC patients.
Dworakowska
Dorota
D
Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Hemostatic Disorders, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland.
Jassem
Ewa
E
Jassem
Jacek
J
Wiedorn
Klaus Hermann
KH
Boltze
Carsten
C
Karmoliński
Andrzej
A
Dworakowski
Rafał
R
Skokowski
Jan
J
Jaśkiewicz
Kazimierz
K
Bosse
Alexander
A
Czestochowska
Eugenia
E
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53