Loss of p27(KIP1) expression predicts poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Immunohistochemical studies of cell cycle-regulating proteins were conducted on tissue samples from 106 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Reduction of p27(KIP1) was observed in 41 (39%) cases and was significantly associated with a poor prognosis by univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.015). In contrast, p16(INK4) expression was reduced in 55 (52%) of the cases and was not correlated with prognosis. p27(KIP1) was not correlated with the PCNA index, while p16(INK4) expression was inversely correlated with the PCNA index (p = 0.01). The expression of these two proteins was not correlated with the clinicopathological parameters of the patients. Nodal status was shown by univariate analysis (p = 0.01) to be a prognostic factor, and poorly differentiated tumors were significantly associated with a poor prognosis by multivariate analysis (p = 0.027). Thus, reduction of p27(KIP1) plays an important role in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and is considered to be an independent prognostic indicator of this disease. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel