p27(Kip1) and Ki-67 Expression in Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

Choi, Choong Sik; Choi, Geon; Song, Jae Joon; Jung, Kwang Yoon; Choi, Jong Ouck; Chae, Yang Seok; Choi, Jong Sang

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
p27(Kip1), novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor plays an important role in the inhibition of cell cycle progression by binding to the cyclin E/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2 complex. And a nuclear antigen Ki-67, expressed in all phases of cell cycle except G0, is a reliable cellular proliferative index. The present study investigated p27(Kip1) and Ki-67 expressions in mucoepidermoid carcinoma for their usefulness of indicator in tumor progression, aggressiveness and prognosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens were obtained from patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma. We performed immunohistochemical staining with p27(Kip1) and Ki-67 monoclonal antibodies and compared its labeling index with patients' clinicopathologic characteristics and survival rates.
RESULTS
There was significant correlation between low p27(Kip1), high Ki-67 expression and high grade, large tumor size, positive nodal status and high stages. Also, Ki-67 expression showed significant inverse correlation with p27(Kip1) expression and there were high survival rates in high p27(Kip1) and low Ki-67 patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, p27(Kip1) and Ki-67 are good and reliable predictive markers of tumor progression, aggressiveness and prognosis in mucoepidermoid carcinomas.