EXPRESSION OF THE CELL CYCLE REGULATORS p53, p21WAF1/CIP1 AND p16INK4A IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIAL ADENOCARCINOMA

Buchynska L.G.*, Nesina I.P.

Summary. Aim: To study correlation links between expression level of proteins p53, p21^WAF1/CIP, p16^INK4 and proliferative potential in human endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC). Material and Methods: The immunohistochemical analysis of expression level of Ki-67, p53, p21^WAF1/CIP1 and p16^INK4 was carried out on surgically resected endometrial cancer samples (n = 74). Scrapes of normal endometrium from 10 patients with polyps of cervical canal of the uterus served as the control. Results: The data showed that endometrial malignant tumors possess high proliferative activity (proliferation index was 37.3 ± 0.2%), overexpression of p53 (labeling index (LI) = 46.1 ± 0.5%) and high expression of p21^WAF1/CIP1 (LI = 11.2 ± 0.4%) and p16^INK4 (LI = 12.0 ± 0.2%). In low differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas the highest level of Ki-67, p53 and p21^WAF1/CIP1 expression and lowest content of p16^INK4 protein were observed. Conclusion: The indicated markers may be used along with traditional morphological and clinical characteristics for diagnosis of endometrial neoplasia.