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. 2000 Jun 2;83(1):50–55. doi: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1310

Reduced p21WAF1/CIP1protein expression is predominantly related to altered p53 in hepatocellular carcinomas

Y-Z Shi 1, A-M Hui 1, T Takayama 1, X Li 1, X Cui 1, M Makuuchi 1
PMCID: PMC2374549  PMID: 10883667

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between the expression of p21WAF1/ClP1protein and p53 status and the possible role of the two proteins in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), we examined the expression of p21WAF1/CIP1and p53 immunohistochemically in 81 tumours from 65 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. p21WAF1/CIP1protein was absent from 59 of 81 tumours (72.8%), and altered p53 expression was found in 43 (53.1%). p21WAF1/CIP1expression was significantly associated with p53 status (P= 0.0008); 38 of 59 tumours lacking p21WAF1/CIP1protein were accompanied by altered p53 expression. Further analyses showed that p21WAF1/CIP1expression was inversely correlated with p53 expression in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCCs, but not in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinomas and hepatocellular carcinomas without viral infection. All 11 tumours with intrahepatic metastasis showed altered p21WAF1/CIP1or p53 expression. In contrast, no intrahepatic metastasis was found in any of the 17 tumours without abnormal expression of either of the two proteins. These results suggest that: (1) different modes of p21WAF1/CIP1regulation are involved in HCCs differing in their hepatitis viral infection status, and p21WAF1/CIP1expression appears to be predominantly related to altered p53 in HCV-related HCCs; (2) disruption of the p53–p21WAF1/CIP1cell- cycle-regulating pathway may contribute to malignant progression of HCC. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

Keywords: p21WAF1/CIP1, p53, hepatocellular carcinoma

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Selected References

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