Clinical significance of expressions of P16, P53 proteins and PCNA in gastric cancer

AIM To study the clinical significance and effect of the expression of P16, P53 proteins as well as PCNA in the occurrence and development of gastric carcinoma. METHODS P16, P53 proteins and PCNA expressions were detected in 77 specimens of gastric carcinoma and pericarcinoma tissues, as well as 21 samples of normal gastric tissue by the method of immunohistochemistry. The data were analyzed in connection with clinical findings. RESULTS The positive rate of P16 protein expression was 20 8% (16/77) in gastric carcinoma samples and was significantly lower than that in both pericarcinoma tissues (59 7%, 46/77) and normal gastric tissues (90 5%,19/21, P 0 05). The positive rates of P53 protein and PCNA expression were 80 5% (62/77) and 92 2% (71/77) in gastric carcinoma samples and they were significantly higher than those in pericarcinoma tissues (41 6%,64 9%) and normal gastric tissues (0 0%, P 0 05). The positive expressions of the P16, P53 proteins and PCNA were correlated with histological typing, degree of differentiation, depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma ( P 0 01), and were not correlated with age, sex, tumor size and sites ( P 0 01). CONCLUSION The abnormal expressions of P16, P53 proteins and PCNA are closely correlated to the occurrence and development, malignancy degree, lymph node metastasis and prognosis of gastric carcinoma. The detection of P16, P53 profein and PCNA implies important clinical significance for gastric carcinoma treatment.