Low and maternal-specific expression of p57KIP2 in hydatidiform mole and its clinical implication.

In situ hybridization was applied to locate and detect the expression of p57KIP2 in hydatidiform mole (5 cases of partial hydatidiform mole and 18 cases of complete hydatidiform mole) and normal villi (23 cases). The positive signals of p57KIP2 expression were analyzed by HPIAS-1000 Image-Analysis System. p57KIP2 was highly expressed in normal villi but showed distinct low expression in hydatidiform mole (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the locus of low expression of p57KIP2 accorded with the place where lesion of trophoblast occurred. Detection of p57KIP2 made it possible to study the genetics of hydatidiform mole at the transcriptional level. Low expression of p57KIP2 could be a molecular marker in hydatidiform mole and a target for therapy.