Reduced expression of the cell-cycle inhibitor p27(Kip1) is associated with progression and lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma

Aims: p27(Kip1) (p27), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, plays an import ant role as inhibiting the progression of the cell cycle. Decreased express ion of p27 is associated with high histological grade and aggressiveness of several human tumours. We aimed to evaluate the role of p27 in the progres sion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma. Methods and results: We analysed the expression of p27 in 67 primary gastri c carcinomas and 31 lymph node metastases by immunohistochemistry. Reduced expression of p27 was found more frequently in advanced gastric cancer (40. 9%) than in early gastric cancer (15.6%) (P < 0.001). Decreased p27 express ion correlated with large tumour size, high histological grade, lymphatic i nvasion, advanced stage, deep invasion, lymph node metastasis and recurrenc e. The expression of p27 showed an inverse correlation with the Ki67 labell ing index. There was a significant reduction of p27 expression in metastati c tumour cells in lymph nodes (mean positive cells: 3.7%) when compared to the corresponding primary gastric carcinomas (mean positive cells: 8.1%) (P = 0.008). Conclusions: Alterations of p27 expression may play an important role in th e progression and metastasis to lymph node of tumour cells in human gastric carcinoma.