Expression of CDKI p27Kip1 in trophoblastic neoplasm

Objective To evaluate the role of p27(Kip1) in tumorigenesis and the development of tr ophoblastic cell disease.Methods Using immunohistochemistry, the expression of p27-protein was investgated in 10 normal chorionic villi in the first trimester of pregnancy, 15 complete hydatid iform moles (HM), 7 invasive moles (IM) and 7 choriocarcinomas (CC). Results In all cases, immunohistochemical staining localized p27-protein in the plasma . Decreased expression of p27(Kip1) was observed in malignant trophoblasti c neoplasms with a positive rate of 21.43%, which is significantly less than th at in normal chorionic villi (80%) and in complete HM (73.33%) (P<0.05). The positive rate of p27(Kip1) in those complete HM with large uterine size for gestational age was lower than that in those with normal or small uterus (42 .86% vs 100%, P<0.05).Conclusion p27(Kip1) may be involved in the tumorigenesis of gestational trophoblastic neoplasm as a negative regulator of the cell cycle. The expression level of p27(Kip1) in trophoblastic cells may be a prognostic factor for complete HM.