Expression of cell-cycle regulatory proteins cyclin D1, cyclin E, and their inhibitor p21 WAF1/CIP1 in gastric cancer.

The expression and prognostic role of cyclin D1, cyclin E, and p21 (WAF1/CIP1) were immunohistochemically investigated in 413 curatively resected gastric carcinomas. p21 was expressed in 65.4 per cent (n=270), cyclin D1 in 23.7 per cent (n=98), and cyclin E in 13.6 per cent ( n=56) of the tumours. The expression of p21, cyclin D1, and cyclin E was positively associated with the papillary or tubular type of the WHO classification, as well as with the intestinal type according to the Lauren classification. No significant correlation could be found between the expression of p21, cyclin D1 and cyclin E and the parameters pT category, lymph node involvement, and blood vessel and lymphatic vessel invasion. Concerning survival, no prognostic impact of p21, cyclin D1, and cyclin E expression could be verified, even when different subgroups of patients were analysed separately according to the pT and pN category as well as to the Lauren classification. The present data suggest that neither cyclin D1, cyclin E nor their inhibitor p21 can predict the survival of gastric cancer patients, nor is their immunohistochemical detection a suitable tool for identifying subgroups of patients who may be at higher risk.