Jl. Burton et al., p53 expression, p21 expression and the apoptotic index in endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma, HISTOPATHOL, 35(3), 1999, pp. 221-229
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Aims: Although several genetic abnormalities are known to occur in endometr
ial cancer, including tp53 gene mutation, the pathogenesis of this common m
alignancy remains poorly defined. We investigated the relationship between
overexpression of p53 protein, p21 protein expression and apoptosis in endo
metrial carcinoma,
Methods and results: Sixteen cases of endometrial carcinoma in which polyme
rase chain reaction analysis had demonstrated the absence of a tp53 gene mu
tation were selected on the basis of p53 protein expression: p21 protein ex
pression and the apoptotic index were then determined for each case, The pr
oportion of cells in each case ex-pressing p53 and p21 protein immunoreacti
vity was compared with the apoptotic index, Overall, no significant correla
tion was demonstrated between p53 and p21 immunoreactivity, or between eith
er p53 or p21 and the apoptotic index.
Conclusions: Factors other than p53 are involved in the regulation of p21 e
xpression and apoptosis in endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinomas without
p53 mutations. Despite the small numbers used in this study, the data sugg
est a correlation between low levels of p53 immunoreactivity and apoptosis.
We postulate that high levels of p53 immunoreactivity may be due to abnorm
al stabilization of the p53 protein. Follow-up studies are needed with a la
rger data set.