Loss of p27 expression in endometrial carcinoma patients withrecurrent tumor is significantly associated with poor survival

Purpose of investigation: This study investigates the relationship between the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 expression status and the clinicopathological parameters in endometrial carcinomas. Materials and Methods: The present study employed 101 cases of endometrial tissues which included 71 cases of endometrial carcinomas and 30 cases of non-malignant endometrium. All these cases were utilized in the construction of tissue microarrays which were used later in standard IHC staining protocol to examine p27 expression. Results: Nineteen (26.7%) cases of endometrial carcinomas showed brown granular nuclear expression of p27 including 16 (27%) cases of endometrioid adenocarcinomas, and two (22.2%) cases of serous endometrial carcinomas. Positive p27 immunostaining was found in epithelial and stromal cells of serous carcinomas. Endometrioid adenocarcinomas showed p27 expression in epithelial cells of nine cases, stromal cells of five cases, and both stromal and epithelial cells in the remaining two cases. Thirteen (43%) control cases showed nuclear expression mainly in epithelial cells, except in three cases it was in both stromal and epithelial cells. Loss of p27 expression in endometrial carcinoma patients with recurrent tumor is significantly associated with poor survival (p-value < 0.05). There is no association between p27 expression and other clinicopathological parameters in endometrial tumors. Conclusion: Greater p27 staining was seen in normal and benign endometrial tissues compared to endometrial carcinomas. Loss of p27 expression gives an indication for poor survival in endometrial carcinoma patients with recurrent tumor.

Endometrial carcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; p27.

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