Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 is related to cell proliferation andprognosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

An immunohistochemical study of both p27 and proliferating cell nuclear ant igen (PCNA) was performed on 102 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma s (LSCCs), and large variations in p27 expression were found among the tumo urs. Reduced expression of p27 was revealed in 54 (52.9 per cent) cases and correlated with tumour size, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stage, bu t did not correlate with age, sex, tumour site, or tumour grade. A signific ant positive correlation was found between the percentage of loss of p27 ex pression and the PCNA index (r=0.844, p <0.0001). Reduced expression of p27 was significantly correlated with both reducing disease-free and overall s urvival by univariate analysis. By multivariate analysis, reduced expressio n of p27, tumour grade, tumour size, lymph node metastasis as well as clini cal stage were independent prognostic factors for overall survival of LSCCs . These findings indicate that reduced expression of p27 may be correlated with the malignant biological behaviour of LSCCs.