Abstract:

In this study, the associations of expression of two cell cycle proteins, p16 and p21, with conventional prognostic parameters and survival were investigated in gastric carcinomas. The expression of p16 and p21 were investigated by immunohistochemical method in 84 cases who had undergone gastrectomy. P16 and p21 expressions were classified as positive and negative according to the intensity of staining. The associations of p16 and p21 expressions with age, gender, localization, WHO histologic type, Lauren’s histologic type, WHO differentiation grade, Goseki grade, lymphovascular invasion, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and depth of invasion and survival were also investigated. For p16 expression, nuclear immunoreactivity was traced as 10% and over in 50 cases (59.5%) and as under 10% in 34 cases (40.5%). For p21 expression, nuclear immunoreactivity was traced as 10% and over in 47 cases (55.9%) and as under 10% in 37 cases (44.1%). P16 and p21 expressions were determined to have no significant correlations with age, gender, localization, WHO histologic type, Lauren’s histologic type, WHO differentiation grade, Goseki grade and lymphovascular invasion. However, p21 expression was found to have significant correlations with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and depth of invasion (p=0.006, p=0.013, p=0.003, respectively) and P16 expression was found to have significant correlations with survival and lymph node metastasis (p=0.012, p=0.017, respectively). As a conclusion, gastric cancer is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in our region, as well as all over the world. Although TNM staging system has been one of the most significant prognostic parameters, studies on new prognostic parameters are in progress. Our results show that p16 and p21 expressions may be helpful in predicting the clinicopathologic behavior of gastric cancer.

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