The association of immunoreactive p53 and Ki-67 with T-stage, grade, occurrence of metastases and survival in renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to clarify the association of p53 and Ki-67 protein expressions with tumor characteristics and survival in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).


METHODS
One hundred and seventeen patients were included in the study, 101 (86%) with conventional RCC according to the Heidelberg classification. Patients were divided into three groups with either primary metastases (pm), later metastases (lm), or no metastases (nm) during 7.5 years follow-up. Paraffin-embedded tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry utilizing anti-p53 and anti-Ki-67 antibodies, with a positive reaction cut-off of 10%.


RESULTS
In conventional RCC, there was more Ki-67 positivity in high T(tumor)-stage compared to low T-stage (p = 0.036) and in pm patients compared to nm patients (p = 0.007); p53 was not associated with T-stage or metastatic category. Coexpression of p53/Ki-67 was more common in pm patients than in lm patients, but was not observed in nm patients (p = 0.001). In the pm/lm group, p53 and Ki-67 expressions were associated with decreased survival (log-rank, p = 0.030 and p = 0.031, respectively). In lm patients, high T-stage (T3, T4) was associated with metastases-free survival (p = 0.034) and overall survival (p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
p53 and Ki-67 expressions are associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and decreased survival in metastatic RCC. Ki-67 alone was a stronger prognostic marker than p53 for development of metastases. Double positivity for p53 and Ki-67 expression in RCC patients seems to indicate a high metastatic probability.
Kankuri
Minna
M
Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Hospital, PL 52, FIN-20521 Turku, Finland. minna.kankuri@utu.fi
Söderström
Karl-Ove
KO
Pelliniemi
Tarja-Terttu
TT
Vahlberg
Tero
T
Pyrhönen
Seppo
S
Salminen
Eeva
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis