p53, Mdm2, and c-Myc overexpression is associated with a poor prognosis inaggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The expression of p53, p21/WAF-1, Mdm2, c-Myc, and proliferating cell nucle ar antigen (PCNA) proteins was examined by the immunohistochemistry of para ffin-embedded tissues of 62 patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma s (NHL) and correlated to clinical data. Expression of p53, p21/WAF-1, Mdm2 , and c-Myc protein was observed in 17 out of 62 cases (30%), 25 out of 60 (42%), 13 out of 44 (30%), and 39 out of 51 (76.5%), respectively. The p53( +)/p21WAF-1 phenotype, which is more frequently found in p53 mutations, was associated with a worse overall survival (P = 0.04) and with a lower rate of complete response (CR) (PF = 0.01), p53 and c-Myc negative expression wa s related to a better response to chemotherapy (PF = 0.005 and 0.035, respe ctively), The expression of p53, c-Myc, and Mdm2 was related to a shortened overall survival (P < 0.001, 0.05, and 0.037, respectively), suggesting th at the expression of these proteins could be associated with a poor outcome in these patients. Am. J. Hematol. 67:84-92, 2001, (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, In c.