P21WAF1, P27KIP1, TP53 and C-MYC analysis in 204 ovarian carcinomas treated with platinum-based regimens

Background: The prognostic and predictive value of cell cycle regulatory proteins in ovarian cancer has not been established. We evaluated the clinical and biological significance of P21(WAF1), P27(KIP1), C-MYC, TP53 and Ki67 expressions in ovarian cancer patients. Materials and methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 204 ovarian carcinomas of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIB to IV treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis with Cox and logistic regression models was performed in the whole group, and in the TP53-negative and TP53-positive subgroups. Results: High P21(WAF1) labeling index (LI) was an independent positive predictor of platinum-sensitive response (P=0.02). Overall survival was positively influenced by P21(WAF1) (P=0.02) or by P21(WAF1) Plus P27(KIP1) LI (P=0.004) in the TP53-negative group only. Ki67 LI showed borderline association with disease-free survival (P=0.05). Growth fraction was negatively associated with P21(WAF1) and P27(KIP1) indices in the TP53-negative group (P=0.023 and 0.008, respectively), and these associations were borderline or lost in the TP53-positive group. Endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas differed from other carcinomas by having a low incidence of TP53 accumulation, a high incidence of C-MYC overexpression (70%) and a low median Ki67 LI (all with P<0.001). Conclusions: We have shown an independent predictive value of P21(WAF1) LI in ovarian carcinoma patients. The prognostic value of P21(WAF1) and P21(WAF1) Plus P27(KIP1) LI was determined by TP53 status. A high frequency of C-MYC overexpression in endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas may suggest its role in the development of these tumor types.