[Expression and significance of P53, P21WAF1 and CDK1 proteins in epithelial ovarian cancer].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: P53, P21WAF1 and CDK1 are key factors in the "P53 pathway" of G2/M phase DNA damage checkpoint in cell cycle. This study was to investigate the expression and significance of P53, P21WAF1 and CDK1 proteins in epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS: The expression of P53, P21WAF1 and CDK1 proteins in 20 specimens of normal ovarian tissues, 20 specimens of benign epithelial ovarian tumor and 76 specimens of epithelial ovarian cancer was detected by immunohistochemistry. Their correlations to the clinicopathologic characteristics of epithelial ovarian cancer and their interrelationships were analyzed.

RESULTS: Significant differences were noted in the positive rates of P53, P21WAF1 and CDK1 proteins between epithelial ovarian cancer and normal ovarian tissues, benign ovarian tumors (P < 0.05). In epithelial ovarian cancer, up-regulation of P53 protein was associated with advanced FIGO stage and poor differentiation; down-regulation of P21WAF1 protein was associated with advanced FIGO stage; CDK1 showed no association with any clinicopathologic factors. P53 and CDK1 expression were negatively correlated to P21WAF1 expression (r = -0.388, P = 0.001; r = -0.282, P = 0.014); P53 expression was positively correlated to CDK1 expression (r = 0.263, P = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS: P53 protein is related to the malignancy of epithelial ovarian cancer, P53 and P21WAF1 protein may be related to the malignant development of epithelial ovarian cancer. CDK1 detection may be helpful in the early diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer.