Expression of Gadd45a and p53 proteins in human pancreatic cancer: Potential effects on clinical outcomes
Abstract
Background and Objectives
p53 gene has a dual role as a trigger of apoptosis and as an initiator of DNA repair. Gadd45a gene assumes the function to maintain the stability of genome. The present study was designed to assess the significance of Gadd45a and p53 protein expression on pancreatic cancer.
Methods
The expression of p53 and Gadd45a was immunohistochemically studied in 59 patients with pancreatic cancer.
Results
The positive expression rate of p53 and Gadd45a was 67.8% and 42.4%, respectively. p53 expression in the patients <65 years was significantly higher than that in the patients ≥65 years (P = 0.030). Gadd 45a expression showed no correlation to the patients' age. There was no relation for p53 expression to differentiation and TNM stages. Gadd 45a expression showed significant difference in histological differentiation (P = 0.007). The median survival time of p53(+) and Gadd45a(+) group was shorter than that of p53(−) and Gadd45a(−) group (P > 0.05), respectively. Meanwhile, the median survival time of p53 (+)Gadd45a(+) group was also shorter than that of p53(−)Gadd45a(−) group (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
p53 and Gadd45a proteins are both highly expressed in pancreatic cancer. The overexpression of p53 and Gadd45a may have connection with the malignant biologic behavior of pancreatic cancer. J. Surg. Oncol.. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
