Prognostic significance of p27(kip1) protein expression and spontaneous apoptosis in patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas

Tumor cell apoptosis, proliferation and p27 expression using an in situ apo ptosis detection kit, anti-Ki67 antibody and anti-p27 antibody were investi gated in 171 colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens, together with the assessm ent of mutated p53 expression. No apparent association was observed among p 27 expression, mutated p53 accumulation, the Ki67 labeling index and the ap optotic index (AI). In the multivariate analysis using the median values as the cut-off points (46.8% for p27 expression and 0.89% for AI), p27 expres sion was identified as an independent and significant predictor for overall survival. When the present series of patients were dichotomized by these c ut-off points to categorize the cases into 4 subgroups, the patients in the group with low p27 expression and a low AI had the poorest prognosis. The assessment of p27 expression and AI therefore may prove valuable in identif ying patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma who may have a poor prognosis. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.