PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF p21~(WAF1) IN OVARIAN CARCINOMA

Objective The study the p21 WAF1 protein expression and its prognostic value in ovarian carcinoma. Methods By using immunohistochemical staining, p21 WAF1 and p53 protein expression in a series of 75 ovarian carcinomas was investigated to determine their relationship to the outcome of ptients in combine with the clinical and pathological features. Results (1) No correlation was found between p21 expression and p53 expression ( P =0.197). (2) High level expression of p21 was detected in 61.33 % of patients, but no statistically significant difference was found in the p21 expression with age、 ascites、 FIGO staging、pathological type、differentiation、the amount of the residual disease、initially treated or retreated cases. (3) Multivariate survival analysis identified the amount of the residual disease ( P =0 0316)、 p21 expression ( P =0 0172)、 FIGO staging ( P =0 0198) as independent risk variables. High levels of p21 correlated with poor prognosis, especially in the initial treated cases.Conclusion p21 is suggested as a new prognostic factor for the initially treated patients with ovarian carcinoma, and would be helpful in planning the treatment.