Correlation between p53 and Rb Protein Expression and Clinicopathologic Features in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) are one of the most common cancers in Korea. The mechanism of HCC development is still unclear, and the aberration of the tumor suppressor genes in HCC remains to be clarified.

To study the expressions of p53 and Rb protein, and their correlation with the clinicopathological parameters in HCC, 68 patients, with surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas, were analyzed by an immunohistochemical method. The expressions of p53 and Rb protein were classified into three categorizes, depending on the percentage of stained cells.

The expression of the p53 protein was 51.5% (35/68), and was significantly correlated with differentiation (p<0.05). The altered Rb protein expression was 72.2% (49/68). The expressions of p53 and altered Rb protein had no significant correlation with the tumor size, gender, WHO histological pattern, cirrhosis or vascular invasion (p>0.05). There was a positive correlation between p53 and Rb protein overexpression (p<0.05). The expressions of p53 and Rb protein had correlation with the Ki-67 labeling index (p<0.05).

These findings suggest the aberrant expressions of p53 and Rb protein may play a role in the progression and carcinogenesis of HCC.