title: Raf Kinase Inhibitor Protein Expression and Prognostic Value in Soft Tissue Sarcomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are heterogeneous tumors displaying multiple and complex molecular abnormalities with no specific pattern. Despite current therapeutic advances, the patients with STS still have a poor outcome, which makes it necessary to find out new prognostic markers. The Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) has been associated with prognosis in several human neoplasms; however, its role in STS is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study RKIP expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in a series of 87 STSs, and its expression profile was associated with the patients' pathological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that RKIP is expressed in the cytoplasm of the great majority of cases, and absent in only approximately 18% of cases (16/87). Importantly, we observed that loss of RKIP expression was associated with poor outcome, constituting an independent prognostic marker.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study assessing RKIP expression levels in STS. We showed that loss of RKIP expression is present in a small subset of cases; however, its absence was associated with poor survival and may be a potential marker for STS prognosis.
authors: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Martinho
authors: Marcelo
authors: M
authors: Campos
authors: Guilherme
authors: G
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Valter
authors: V
authors: Penna
authors: Emílio C
authors: EC
authors: Curcelli
authors: Marcus V
authors: MV
authors: Olivieri
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Morini
authors: Cristovam
authors: C
authors: Scapulatempo
authors: Lucas F
authors: LF
authors: Abrahão-Machado
authors: Rui M
authors: RM
authors: Reis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C511482:PEBP1 protein, human; D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein