p27 expression correlates with prognosis in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer

Background: Hypopharyngeal cancer is closely associated with smoking, drink ing and malnutrition. Recent findings reveal that carcinogenesis depends on genetic aberrations. Materials and Methods: Eighty-one patients with hypop haryngeal cancer were analyzed for p53, CCND1, and p27, and 72 patients wer e analyzed for p21, immunohistochemically. Results: p53 overexpression was found in 70%, CCND1 in 17%, p21 in 29%, and p27 in 32%. The low intensity o f p27 expression correlated with poor prognosis, but the level of expressio n of p53, CCND1, and p21 did not. Conclusion: The immunohistochemical analy sis of p27 provides a possible tool in determining the prognosis of patient s with hypopharyngeal cancer.