The retinoblastoma family member pRb2/p130 is an independent predictor of survival in human soft tissue sarcomas.
OBJECTIVE
pRb2/p130, a member of the Retinoblastoma gene family, has been shown to be a powerful prognostic factor in several malignancies. We sought to evaluate pRb2/p130 protein expression and its clinical effect in patients affected with soft tissue sarcomas (STS).


METHODS
Expression of pRb2/p130 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections in 41 STSs. Results obtained were correlated with clinicopathologic variables and disease-free and overall survival (OS) in univariate and multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
Expression of pRb2/p130 was diminished in 25 (61%) tumors, whereas the remaining ones (39%) were classified as high expressors. No correlation between pRb2/p130 expression and clinicopathologic variables was observed. However, a direct relationship between pRb2/p130 expression and clinical outcome of the patients was found in the subgroup of nonmetastatic tumors (n = 31). In univariate analysis, reduced pRb2/p130 expression was a negative prognostic factor and correlated with shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.021) and OS (P = 0.017) survival. In multivariate analysis, reduced pRb2/p130 expression was confirmed to be an independent predictor of shorter OS when considered together with tumor stage and grading (risk ratio, 7.893; confidence interval, 1.618-38.509; P = 0.011).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows for the first time the potential prognostic value of pRb2/130 expression evaluated on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections in STSs patients. pRb2/p130 immunoreactivity can be used to predict OS in patients with nonmetastatic STSs and, therefore, may represent a new prognostic marker.
Masciullo
Valeria
V
Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19107-6799, USA.
Berardengo
Ester
E
Boglione
Antonella
A
Sgambato
Alessandro
A
Bernardi
Amelia
A
Forni
Marco
M
Linari
Alessandra
A
Cito
Letizia
L
Scambia
Giovanni
G
Comandone
Alessandro
A
Giordano
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D050717:Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D050717:Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130