Prognostic significance of p27KIP1 expression in resected non-small cell lung cancers: analysis in combination with expressions of p16INK4A, pRB, and p53.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Whether a prognostic role for expression of the tumor suppressor gene (TSG) products exists in resected non-small call lung cancers (NSCLCs) remains controversial. Our study was performed to determine the value of TSGs expressions for patients survival in NSCLCs.

METHODS

We examined 108 resected NSCLCs for the expression of TSG products, p27(KIP1), p16(INK4A), pRB, and p53 that govern cell cycle transition by immunohistochemistry and compared them with patient clinical characteristics and prognoses.

RESULTS

Abnormal expressions of p27(KIP1), p16(INK4A), pRB, and p53 were found in 61 (57%), 53 (49%), 42 (39%), and 48 (44%), respectively, of the 108 NSCLCs. Univariate analysis showed abnormal expression of p27(KIP1) to be a strong indicator for poor patient survival, not only in the total cohort (P = 0.0024), but also in subgroups with T1-T2 (P = 0.016), N0 (P = 0.047), and squamous cell carcinomas (P = 0.026), but not according to the expression of p16(INK4A), pRB, or p53. In the Cox regression analysis, p27(KIP1) expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.0148) and associated with pathological stage (P = 0.0278).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that abnormal p27(KIP1) expression may be a useful indicator to predict postoperative prognosis, especially in patients with early stage NSCLCs, as compared to other TSG products examined.