The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical significance of p53 and p21ras p21wafl, p27kip1 and p16ink4a expression in cases of early gastric cancer. A total of 81 patients who had undergone gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy between 1971 and 2004 were retrospectively investigated. The immunohistochemical expression of p21ras, p53, p21waf1/cip1, p27kip1 and p16ink4a in the tissues was evaluated. In normal, metaplastic and tumoral mucosa, p53 was positive in 53, 87.3, and 87.1% of the cases, respectively. In the same tissues, p21ras was positivE in 85.3, 86 and 96.8%, respectively. Positivity FOR p16ink4a was DETECTED IN 46.3, 91.1 and 86% OF THE CASES, respectively, WHEREAS p27kip1 WAS positiVE IN 60, 94.7 and 95.3%, and p21wafl/cip1 WAS positivE IN 32.4, 72.7 and 71.4% OF THE CASES, respectively. All THE tumors WERE positive for p53. Tumors with lymph node invasion presented WITH OVERexpression (+4) of p53 in 47% of the cases VS. 17% OF patients who DID not HAVE lymph node involvement. THEREFORE, higher expression of p53, p21ras and p21wafl/cip1 IN the tumor exhibited a statistically significant association with lymph node involvement.
Keywords: gastric cancer; p16ink4a; p21ras; p21waf1/cip1; p27kip1; p53.