p22/WAF1 expression in human colorectal carcinoma: association with p53, transcription factor AP-2 and prognosis

Br J Cancer. 1999 Sep;81(1):133-40. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6690662.

Abstract

p21/WAF1 expression was studied in a series of 162 colorectal carcinoma patients and its relation to p53- and activator protein (AP)-2 expressions and to stage as well as survival was assessed. p21 expression was moderate or intense in 33% of the tumours, and 53% of the tumours had moderate or strong p53 staining intensity. Eighty-nine percent of the tumours showed a weak cytoplasmic AP-2 signal. As expected, p21 and p53 stainings were inversely related to each other (P < 0.001). There was a significant positive association between p21 and AP-2 expression levels (P= 0.01). p21 intensity and percentage were higher in Dukes' A and B stages (P< 0.001). The cancer-related survival and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were significantly lower among patients with a low signal for p21 (P< 0.001) and low p21 percentage in tumour epithelium (P < 0.001). High p53 staining intensity in tumour epithelium predicted poor survival (P = 0.01) and RFS (P = 0.003). In the multivariate analysis, p21 percentage distribution independently predicted cancer-related survival in all cases, and p21 expression intensity in T1-4/N0-3/M0 and T1-3/N0/M0 cases. p21 percentage distribution was an independent predictor of RFS in all and T1-3/N0/M0 cases. AP-2 staining did not reach any prognostic significance. These results suggest that the immunohistochemical detection of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 could be used to predict more precisely the outcome of colorectal cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / biosynthesis
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transcription Factor AP-2
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CDKN1A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Transcription Factor AP-2
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53