Expression Of P16 Gene In Patients With Gynecological Malignant Tumor And Its Clinical Significance

Objective To study the relationship between tumor suppressor gene p16 and the generation and development of gynecologic malignancies.Methods By use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, the tumor suppressor gene p16(p16 mRNA, p16 protein)were detected in 130 primary gynecologic malignancies including 48 epithelial ovarian carcinomas, 42 endometrial carcinomas, 40 cervical carcinomas and their corresponding normal tissues.Results 1.All samples of three kinds of normal tissues were found to express p16 mRNA and p16 protein. 2.The positive expression rate of p16 mRNA in ovarian, endometrial and cervical carcinomas were 54.17%, 69.05% and 60.00% respectively, and the p16 protein expression rate were 45.83%, 59.52% and 52.50% respectively, significantly lower than that in the corresponding normal tissues (p<0.05). 3.Low expression of p16 mRNA, p16 protein were significantly associated with higher degree and poor differentiation of all the three kinds of gynecologic malignancies, but were irrelevant to their histological types (p<0.05). 4.There was a correlation between the expression of p16 at protein level and that at mRNA level (p<0.05).Conclusion The results suggest that low expression of p16 is well related with the generation and development of gynecologic malignancies. Measurement of the expression of p16 mRNA and p16 protein in patients' tumors might help in predicting prognosis, directing clinical treatment and providing theories for genetic therapy.