Cell cycle regulators in bladder cancer: a multivariate survival study with emphasis on p27Kip1

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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells
12:19

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells

Published on: January 21, 2012

P Korkolopoulou1, P Christodoulou, A E Konstantinidou

  • 1Department of Pathology, National University of Athens, Greece.

Human Pathology
|June 29, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Low p27 expression in bladder cancer correlates with aggressive tumors and poor survival. Combining p27 and Ki-67 levels offers significant prognostic value for muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinomas.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) regulate cell proliferation by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases.
  • p27Kip1 (p27) is a key CKI linking growth signals to cell cycle progression.
  • Mutations in p27 are rare in bladder cancer, suggesting altered expression plays a role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of p27 and other G1 cell cycle proteins in transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs).
  • To correlate p27 expression with proliferation rates, clinicopathologic parameters, and patient survival.
  • To evaluate the prognostic significance of p27, alone and in combination with Ki-67, in TCCs.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of p27, p21, p16, pRb, and p53 expression in 120 TCC cases.
  • Correlation of protein expression with proliferation rate (Ki-67), clinicopathologic features, and survival data.
  • Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed.

Main Results:

  • Higher p27 levels were associated with low-grade, superficial, papillary, and slowly proliferating TCCs.
  • Decreased p27 expression correlated with poorer overall and postrelapse survival.
  • The combination of low p27 and high Ki-67 expression was a strong predictor of poor survival in muscle-invasive TCCs.

Conclusions:

  • Low p27 expression is linked to poorly differentiated, muscle-invasive TCCs and impaired cell cycle control.
  • The combined Ki-67/p27 status provides significant prognostic information for muscle-invasive TCCs.
  • This combined marker offers prognostic value beyond conventional parameters.

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