Clinical significance of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p53 expression in serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary

There have been many reports indicating that the down-regulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) is related to carcinogenesis and the development of various tumors; nevertheless, its association with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains controversial. In this study, we focused on serous ovarian cancer, which is the most prevalent histological type, and performed immunohistochemical analysis to examine the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p53 in 43 cases of serous-type EOC sourced from a single University Hospital: 14 stage I, 4 stage II, 21 stage III, and 4 stage IV. Positive p21(WAF1/CIP1) was found in 24 of 43 cases (56%), and positive p53 was detected in 21 of 43 cases (49%). Among stage III/IV cases, positive p21(WAF1/CIP1) staining was found in 11 of 25 cases (44%), and positive p53 staining was detected in 13 of 25 cases (52%). Univariate survival analysis for the entire cohort revealed that positive p21(WAF1/CIP1) was associated with a survival benefit. The 10-year survival rates of p21(WAF1/CIP1)-positive staining and p21(WAF1/CIP1)-negative staining were 82.4 and 39.5%, respectively, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.01). Overall survival for p21(WAF1/CIP1)-positive with p53-negative staining [p21(+)/p53(-)] was significantly different from p21(WAF1/CIP1)-positive with p53-positive [p21(+)/p53(+)], p21(WAF1/CIP1)-negative with p53-positive staining [p21(-)/p53(+)], and p21(WAF1/CIP1)-negative with p53-negative staining [p21(-)/p53(-)] (p<0.05). When only III/IV cases were evaluated, overall survival for [p21(+)/p53(-)] was significantly different from [p21(+)/p53(+)], [p21(-)/p53(+)], and [p21(-)/p53(-)] (p<0.05). These results suggested that the overexpression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) in conjunction with the loss of p53 expression was a stronger predictor of survival benefit than either molecule alone in Japanese serous-type advanced ovarian cancers with more than 10-year follow-up.     

人乳腺癌细胞株WAF1/CIP1/p21基因的表达及其与细胞生物学特性的关系

目的研究人乳腺癌细胞株ＷＡＦ１／ＣＩＰ１基因的ＤＮＡ状况、ｍＲＮＡ和蛋白的表达水平及其意义。方法应用细胞培养、分子生物学Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ和Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ杂交以及免疫组化染色等技术，检测人乳腺癌表达野生型ｐ５３（ｗｔｐ５３）的ＭＣＦ７细胞和表达突变型ｐ５３（ｍｔｐ５３）的ＭＤＡＭＢ２３１细胞中ＷＡＦ１／ＣＩＰ１基因ＤＮＡ状况、ｍＲＮＡ和蛋白质的表达水平，研究其与ｍｄｍ２、ｐ５３蛋白的表达和细胞生物学特性的关系。结果比较ＭＣＦ７细胞与ＭＤＡＭＢ２３１细胞：（１）两者ＷＡＦ１／ＣＩＰ１基因ＤＮＡ状况无明显差异，前者ｍＲＮＡ和蛋白质的表达水平明显高于后者（Ｐ＜０．０５）；（２）两者ｐ５３蛋白的性质和分布不同，前者ｍｄｍ２蛋白的表达水平明显高于后者（Ｐ＜０．０５）；（３）前者生物学特性好于后者。结论人乳腺癌细胞株ＷＡＦ１／ＣＩＰ１基因ｍＲＮＡ和蛋白质的表达水平与ｐ５３基因表型和细胞生物学特性有关。     

Overriding of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors by high and low risk human papillomavirus types: evidence for an in vivo role in cervical lesions.

High risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are agents in the aetiology of cervical carcinoma. The products of two early genes, E6 and E7, appear to be the principal transforming proteins. Studies of various monolayer cell culture systems have shown that the E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus type 16 is able to neutralize or bypass the inhibitory effect of the cell cycle-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors (CKIs) p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1. To understand whether the p21WAF1/CIP1 or p27KIP1 neutralization also plays a role in vivo, we performed studies on clinical specimens. Forty-five cervical biopsies, including HPV-negative mucosa, HPV 16-positive preinvasive (low and high grade lesions) and invasive neoplasia as well as HPV 6-positive condyloma acuminatum were analysed by single and double immunohistology. We examined the positive cell cycle regulator cyclin A and the universal cell cycle marker Ki67 as well as the negative cell cycle regulators p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1. Here, we show that in a significant fraction of cells the G1 block can be overcome despite high levels of CKIs in HPV lesions. This phenomenon, which was more evident for p21WAF1/CIP1 than for p27KIP1 was most marked in low grade lesions and in condylomata acuminata, in which a high viral productivity is expected. These results indicate that the overriding of CKI inactivation by viral oncoproteins appears to be a conserved property between low and high risk HPV types. We conclude that the CKI neutralization by HPVs is likely to be required for viral DNA replication rather than for malignant transformation of the host cell.     

p21~(WAF1/CIP1)在乳腺癌中的表达及意义

目的　探讨p2 1WAF1/CIP1蛋白在乳腺癌中表达的临床意义。方法　运用免疫组化SP法半定量检测p2 1蛋白在癌旁正常乳腺组织、乳腺癌组织中的表达。结果　p2 1蛋白表达位于细胞核 ,呈棕黄色。在 2 0例癌旁正常乳腺组织中 ,无p2 1蛋白表达。在 69例乳腺癌组织中有 3 0例p2 1蛋白阳性表达。在乳腺癌组织中 ,随组织学分级升高 ,p2 1阳性率下降 (P <0 0 5 ) ,随临床分期升高 ,p2 1阳性率下降 (P <0 0 5 )。有淋巴结转移组p2 1阳性率低于无淋巴结转移组 (P <0 0 5 )。p2 1蛋白阳性表达者术后 5年无瘤生存率高于p2 1蛋白阴性者术后 5年无瘤生存率 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　p2 1蛋白可用来评估乳腺癌细胞分化情况及转移潜能 ,可判断乳腺癌患者预后。     

Sensitivity to the non-COX inhibiting celecoxib derivative, OSU03012, is p21(WAF1/CIP1) dependent

OSU03012 is a non-COX inhibiting celecoxib derivative with growth inhibiting and apoptotic activity in many cancer cell lines. To investigate mechanisms related to cell cycle proteins in growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by OSU03012, the primary human oral epithelial cell line, TE1177, was transformed with HPV16 E6 (TE/E6), HPV16 E7 (TE/E7) or empty vector (TE/V). TE/E6 cell lines exhibiting low levels of p53 and undetectable levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) were sensitized to the growth inhibiting and apoptotic effects of OSU03012. The TE/E7 cell lines expressing low levels of Rb and elevated levels of p53 and p21(WAF1/CIP1) were resistant. OSU03012 reduced the number of cells in the S phase of the TE/E7 and TE/V cell lines with intact p53-p21(WAF1/CIP1) checkpoint, but not in the checkpoint defective TE/E6 cell lines. Treatment with OSU03012 also markedly reduced the levels of cyclin A and Cdk2 in TE/E7 and TE/V, but not in TE/E6 cell lines, which had significantly enhanced basal levels of cyclin A and Cdk2. Consistent with the TE/E6 cell line, p21(WAF1/CIP1)-/- mouse embryo fibroblasts were more sensitive to OSU03012-induced apoptosis as evidenced by PARP and caspase 3 cleavages. These data suggest that p21(WAF1/CIP1) is an important factor in the sensitivity of cells to the growth inhibiting and apoptotic effects of OSU03012.     

p21WAF1/CIP1 protein expression in primary ovarian cancer

p21WAF1/CIP1 protein is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, able to prevent the CDK2/cyclin E induced retinoblastoma protein (pRB) phosphorylation, thus inhibiting cell cycle progression at G1 phase. p21WAF1/CIP1 protein levels were examined in a series of 102 ovarian tissue samples including normal ovary, primary ovarian tumors, omental metastasis, recurrent disease and residual tumor after chemotherapy exposure, by Western blot analysis. The association of p21WAF1/CIP1 status with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcome was also investigated. p21WAF1/CIP1 protein was detectable in 76 out of 102 (74%) ovarian tissue samples. We observed a significant trend of p21 levels to gradually increase from normal ovarian tissues (median 0 a.u.) through primary ovarian cancers (median 0.19 a.u.), omental metastases (median 0.33 a.u.) and recurrence of disease (median 0.44 a.u.) (p=0.015). In the group of stage III-IV ovarian cancer patients, p21-positive cases showed a more favourable prognosis with respect to p21-negative cases: the 3-year time to progression (TTP) rate was 58% for p21-positive compared with 33% of p21-negative cases (p=0.036). In conclusion, p21WAF1/CIP1 expression levels seem to be correlated with tumor status at the time of diagnosis and can predict TTP in a selected group of patients.     

Implication of p53 in growth arrest and apoptosis induced by the synthetic retinoid CD437 in human lung cancer cells.

CD437 is a novel retinoid that can induce apoptosis in a variety of tumor cell types by an unknown mechanism. We found that CD437 up-regulated the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1), Bax, and Killer/DR5 and induced G1 arrest and rapid apoptosis in three human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines with wild-type p53 but not in five cell lines with mutant p53, suggesting a role for p53 in the effects of CD437. Using H460 cells in which wild-type p53 protein was degraded by transfection of the human papillomavirus 16 E6 (HPV-16 E6) gene and H460 cells transfected with a control plasmid only, we found that CD437 increased p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1), Bax, and Killer/DR5 in the control transfectants. In contrast, the constitutive p53 protein level was suppressed, and the ability of CD437 to increase p53 and its downstream genes was compromised in E6 transfectants. In addition, CD437 induced G1 arrest and apoptosis in the control transfectants but not in the E6-transfected cells. These results indicate that p53 plays a role in CD437-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.     

Absence of prognostic significance of p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer

Prognostic value of p21WAF1/CIP1 expression in non-small-cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) remains unclear. In this study the authors investigated the clinical significance of p21WAF1/CIP1 expression in a group of 117 NSCLC patients, who underwent curative pulmonary resection. Expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein was assessed immunohistochemically and samples showing>5% of positive tumor cells were considered positive. Seventy-six samples (65%) showed positive nuclear p21WAF1/CIP1 protein expression. There was no relationship between the expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein and major clinico-pathological factors, and neither there was an impact of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein expression on disease-free and overall survival. p21WAF1/CIP1 protein occurrence was not correlated with previously determined p53 protein expression and there was also no relationship between all possible p21WAF1/CIP1/p53 phenotypes and survival. In uni- and multivariate analysis only stage of disease was independent prognostic factors. These results suggest the lack of prognostic relevance of p21WAF1/CIP1 expression (analyzed separately or jointly with p53 protein) in surgically treated NSCLC patients.     

Inverse relationship between human papillomavirus-16 infection and disruptive p53 gene mutations in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PURPOSE: Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) often harbor p53 mutations, but p53 protein degradation by the viral oncoprotein E6 may supercede p53 mutations in human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16)-positive tumors. The prevalence of p53 mutations in HPV-positive HNSCCs is indeed lower, but in some tumors these alterations coexist. The purpose of this study was to discern whether HNSCCs differ in the type of p53 mutations as a function of HPV16 status. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The study was nested within a prospective multicenter study (ECOGE 4393/RTOG R9614) of patients with HNSCC treated surgically with curative intent. Tumors from one study center were used to construct a tissue microarray. The tumors were well characterized with respect to p53 mutational status. The tissue microarray was evaluated by HPV16 in situ hybridization. HPV16 analysis was also done on a select group of tonsillar carcinomas known to harbor disruptive p53 mutations defined as stop mutations or nonconservative mutations within the DNA binding domain. RESULTS: HPV16 was detected in 12 of 89 (13%) HNSCCs. By tumor site, HPV16 was detected in 12 of 21 (57%) tumors from the palatine/lingual tonsils, but in none of 68 tumors from nontonsillar sites (P < 0.00001). Both HPV16-positive and HPV16-negative HNSCCs harbored p53 mutations (25% versus 52%), but disruptive mutations were only encountered in HPV16-negative carcinomas. Of seven tonsillar carcinomas with disruptive p53 mutations, none were HPV16 positive, in contrast to HPV16-positive tonsillar carcinomas without disruptive p53 mutations (0% versus 57%; P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Although HPV16 and mutated p53 may coexist in a subset of HNSCCs, HPV16 and disruptive p53 mutations seem to be nonoverlapping events. A less calamitous genetic profile, including the absence of disruptive p53 mutations, may underlie the emerging clinical profile of HPV16-positive HNSCC such as improved patient outcome.     

Therapeutic potential of an adenovirus expressing p73 beta, a p53 homologue, against human papilloma virus positive cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer development. p53 based gene therapy is not suitable for cervical cancer because HPV oncoprotein E6 inactivates p53 protein by targeting it for ubiquitin mediated degradation. Here we evaluated the efficiency of Ad-p73, a replication deficient adenovirus expressing p73beta a p53 homologue, to inhibit the growth of HPV positive cervical cancer cells in vitro using tissue culture system and in vivo using human xenografts in nude mice. Ad-p73, but not Ad-p53 (p53 adenovirus), inhibited the growth in vitro of three different HPV positive cervical cancer cell lines, HeLa, ME180, and SiHa, efficiently, which correlated with stable expression of functional p73 protein. However, the growth of a HPV negative cervical cancer cell line, C33A, was inhibited equally by both Ad-p73 and Ad-p53. In addition, we show that Ad-p73 preinfected HeLa cells and HCT116 E6 cells, an E6 stable cell line, failed to form tumors in nude mice unlike Ad-p53 or Ad-LacZ preinfected cells. Moreover, Ad-p73, but not Ad-p53, inhibited completely the growth of already established tumors of HeLa or HCT116 E6 cells. Furthermore, the ability of p73 to inhibit the growth of these tumors correlated with the stable expression of p73 protein with the concomitant induction of its target gene p21(WAF1/CIP1) and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. These results suggest that Ad-p73 inhibits efficiently the growth in vitro and tumorigenicity and tumor growth in vivo of HPV positive cervical cancer cells and that p73-based approach should be explored as a potential therapeutic model for the treatment of cervical cancer.     

Relationship between p21 and p53 expression, human papilloma virus infection and malignant transformation in sinonasal-inverted papilloma

AimsTo identify the relationship between p21 and p53 expression, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and malignant transformation in sinonasal-inverted papilloma.Material and methodsNasal tissues, exophytic papilloma, inverted papilloma (IP) with dysplasia, IP with carcinoma and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were stained with the monoclonal antibodies p21 and p53. In-situ hybridisation for HPV DNA was also carried out for types 6/11, 16/18 and 31/33.ResultsSignificant increased staining of p21 and p53 was observed in IP with severe dysplasia, IP with carcinoma and invasive carcinoma compared with control nasal mucosa. A significant increase of dysplasia was observed in IP in the HPV 6/11 and 16/18-positive group, compared with the HPV 6/11 and 16/18-negative group. Significant decrease in expression of p21 and p53 was observed in HPV 16/18-positive IP compared with HPV 16/18-negative IP.ConclusionsOur data raise the possibility that testing for p21, p53 and HPV may help to screen out papilloma lesions with a potential for dysplasia or carcinoma.     

人乳腺癌细胞株WAF1／GIP1／p21基因的表达及其与细胞生物学特性的关系

OBJECTIVE: To study the WAF1/CIP1 gene DNA status, mRNA and protein expressions in human breast cancer cell line and its significance. METHODS: Using cell culture, molecular biological techniques such as Southern blot, Northern blot and immunocytochemical methods, the WAF1/CIP1 gene DNA status, mRNA and protein expression levels in MCF-7 expressing wild type p53(wtp53) and MDA-MB-231 expressing mutant p53 (mtp53) human breast cancer cell lines were detected respectively. The p53 and mdm-2 protein expression levels and cytobiological features of the 2 cell lines were compared and correlated to their WAF1/CIP1 gene expression levels. RESULTS: (1) There was no difference in WAF1/CIP1 gene DNA status in the two breast cancer cell lines. Neither of them showed gene amplificatian or deletion. However, the WAF1/CIP1 mRNA and p21WAF1/CIP1 protein expression levels of MCF-7 cells were higer than those of MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05). (2) The character and cellular distribution of p53 protein in the two cell lines were clearly different. The expression level of mdm-2 proteion was significantly higher in MCE-7 than in MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05). (3) Compered to the other breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells were better differentiated, grew more slowly and adhered more closely with each other. CONCLUSION: The WAF1/CIP1 gene expression at mRNA and protein levels is associated with p53 phenotype and some cytobiological features of human breast cancer.     

p53 missense but not truncation mutations are associated with low levels of p21(CIP1/WAF1) mRNA expression in primary human sarcomas

Many growth-suppressing signals converge to control the levels of the CDK inhibitor p21(CIP1/WAF1). Some human cancers exhibit low levels of expression of p21(CIP1/WAF1) and mutations in p53 have been implicated in this down-regulation. To evaluate whether the presence of p53 mutations was related to the in vivo expression of p21(CIP1/WAF1) mRNA in sarcomas we measured the p21(CIP1/WAF1) mRNA levels for a group of 71 primary bone and soft tissue tumours with known p53 status. As expected, most tumours with p53 mutations expressed low levels of p21(CIP1/WAF1)mRNA. However, we identified a group of tumours with p53 gene mutations that exhibited normal or higher levels of p21(CIP1/WAF1) mRNA. The p53 mutations in the latter group were not the common missense mutations in exons 4-9, but were predominantly nonsense mutations predicted to result in truncation of the p53 protein. The results of this study suggest that different types of p53 mutations can have different effects on the expression of downstream genes such as p21(CIP1/WAF1) in human sarcomas.     

Genistein抑制乳腺癌细胞生长的机制

目的 Ｇｅｎｉｓｔｅｉｎ抑制乳腺癌细胞生长的机制。方法 研究主要应用于Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ印迹杂交,Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹杂交,质粒转染技术以及细胞凋亡检测法,探讨Ｇｅｎｉｓｔｅｉｎ抑制乳腺癌细胞生长的机制。结果 Ｇｅｎｉｓｔｅｉｎ可明显抑制不同ＥＲ状态和不同ｐ５３状态的乳腺癌细胞系的生长,同时显著诱导ｐ５３下游基因ｐ２１＾ＷＡＦ／ＣＩＰＩ蛋白和ｍＲＮＡ的表达,而导致ｐ２１＾ＷＡＦＩ／ＣＩＰＩ的表达增强主     

Absence of p53 Overexpression and Favorable Response to Cisplatin-based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Urothelial Carcinomas

It has been controversial whether cancer cells harboring loss or inactivation of the tumor suppressor p53 are resistant or sensitive to DNA-damaging agents including cisplatin and doxorubicin. Overexpression of mdm2 oncoprotein, a negative regulator of p53, is assumed to be an alternative to p53 dysfunction. Archival urothelial carcinoma specimens obtained from 60 patients prior to cisplatin-based chemotherapy were immunohistochemically studied for overexpression of p53 and mdm2. Thirty-two patients (group I) were treated with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting, while 28 patients (group II) underwent chemotherapy for distant metastases or inoperable locoregional tumors. In group I, the responsiveness was correlated with staining status of p53 ( P =0.0225) and the combination of p53 and mdm2 ( P =0.0497). Negative staining of p53 and negative for both p53 and mdm2 could have predicted favorable response to chemotherapy in 16 of 18 (88.9%) and in 12 of 13 (92.3%) tumors, respectively. On the other hand, p53-positive and p53 and/or mdm2-positive staining could have predicted poor response only in 7 of 14 (50.0%) and 8 of 19 (42.1%) tumors, respectively. Disease-specific survival of the p53-negative group was significantly superior to that of the p53-positive group ( P =0.0086). Difference in survival did not become more significant when overexpression of mdm2 was taken into consideration ( P =0.0456). In contrast, in group II, there was no correlation of responsiveness to chemotherapy or survival with p53- or p53/mdm2-staining status. The patients with urothelial carcinomas negative for overexpression of p53 will benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy. From clinical viewpoint, however, p53 status alone or the combination of p53 and mdm2 status is not enough to identify those patients who will not benefit from the treatment.     

Stimulatory effect of oral administration of green tea or caffeine on ultraviolet light-induced increases in epidermal wild-type p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1), and apoptotic sunburn cells in SKH-1 mice

Pretreatment of SKH-1 mice with p.o.-administered 0.6% green tea (6 mg of lyophilized tea solids/ml) or 0.044% caffeine (0.44 mg/ml; concentration present in 0.6% green tea) for 2 weeks enhanced UV-induced increases in the number of p53-positive cells, p21(WAF1/CIP1)-positive cells, and apoptotic sunburn cells in the epidermis. These effects of p.o.-administered green tea or caffeine on early adaptive responses to UV provide the first demonstration of in vivo up-regulation of a tumor suppressor gene by a chemopreventive agent. The stimulatory effect of green tea and caffeine on UV-induced increases in the number of p53-positive cells, p21(WAF1/CIP1)-positive cells, and apoptotic sunburn cells may play a role in the inhibitory effects of tea and caffeine on UV-induced carcinogenesis.     

Heregulin-triggered Her-2/neu signaling enhances nuclear accumulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 and protects breast cancer cells from cisplatin-induced genotoxic damage

Elevated levels of p21WAF1/CIP1, an important mediator of DNA repair, have been observed in various aggressive tumors as well as linked to chemoresistance. We examined whether heregulin (HRG), a member of the EGF-like growth factor family closely related to breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis, modulates p21WAF1/CIP1 expression and cellular localization. We used a model system that consisted of MCF-7 cells and MCF-7 cells engineered to overexpress the full-length cDNA of the human HRG gene (MCF-7/HRG). MCF-7/HRG cells demonstrate constitutive hyperactivation of Her-2/neu receptor as well as activation of down-stream PI-3'K/AKT and MAPK signaling cascades. Immunoblotting analyses showed that MCF-7/HRG cells significantly up-regulate p21WAF1/CIP1 expression relative to control MCF-7/pBABE cells, while a strong nuclear accumulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 in MCF-7/HRG cells was revealed by immunofluorescence microscopy studies. Protein degradation analyses demonstrated that the half-life of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein was increased from approximately 35 min in control MCF-7/pBABE cells to >/=3 h in MCF-7/HRG cells. Pharmacological inactivation of the PI-3'K/AKT and MAPK completely prevented HRG-induced accumulation of p21WAF1/CIP1. A structural deletion mutant of HRG (HRG-M4) lacking the N-terminus sequence and the cytoplasmic-transmembrane region of HRG was generated to investigate whether secretion of HRG and transactivation of Her-2/neu actively contributed to HRG-regulated p21WAF1/CIP1 expression and cellular localization. MCF-7 cells engineered to overexpress HRG-M4 did not demonstrate either activation of Her-2/neu, PI-3'K/AKT, or MAPK. Remarkably, HRG-M4 overexpression completely abolished the ability of HRG to promote nuclear accumulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 and concomitantly enhanced the apoptotic effects of cisplatin towards breast cancer cells. This novel interplay between HRG and p21WAF1/CIP1 strongly suggests that one mechanism of HRG-regulated breast cancer cell proliferation, survival, and/or sensitivity to genotoxic damage is to stabilize and promote a nuclear accumulation of p21WAF1/CIP1.     

WAF1 expression is independent of p53 gene alterations and protein expression in human lung cancer cells

Accumulation of wild-type p53 protein arrests cells primarily at G(1)-S. This arrest is characterized by accumulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) protein. Since the WAF1 gene is itself a target of p53, we investigated p53 gene expression to understand the mechanism 3 of p21 regulation in cellular transformation in human non-small cell lung cancer lines and tumor tissues. Northern and Western blot analyses in cell lines carrying wild-type or mutated p53 showed that WAFI mRNA and protein expression varied among different cell lines. WAFI expression was not directly correlated with the p53 status of the cells. WAFI was also expressed at high levels in the absence of p53 expression in a p53-deleted cell line (H358). Abrogation of p53 protein in H226b (wild-type p53) and H322 (mutated p53) cell lines by antisense RNA reduced WAFI expression in both lines, indicating that mutations in the p53 gene may not necessarily abrogate p53-mediated regulation of WAFI expression. Fourteen primary lung tumors were analyzed for p53 status by SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing. Eight of 14 lung tumor tissues examined contained p53 mutations. Six of 14 contained wildtype p53. Enhanced p21 expression was detected in two lung tumors containing p53 mutations by immunohistochemistry. Together, these data indicate that WAFI expression is independent of p53 gene alterations and protein expression in non-small cell lung tumor cells.     

Association of increased radiocurability of murine carcinomas with low constitutive expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein

PURPOSE: The study investigated whether basal, constitutive levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein in murine carcinomas are related to in vivo tumor radioresponse. The study is based on recent observations demonstrating that in vitro cancer cell lines are resistant to cytotoxic drugs when they express high basal levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein, and that the loss of the p21 gene in the HCT116 human colorectal cancer cell line results in increased radioresponse of xenografts derived from that cell line. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Protein levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1), p53, bax, and bcl-2 were determined in 8 carcinomas (3 mammary carcinomas designated MCa-4, MCa-29, and MCa-35, 2 squamous cell carcinomas designated SCC-IV and SCC-VII, ovarian adenocarcinoma OCa-I, hepatocarcinoma HCa-I, and adenosquamous carcinoma ACa-SG) syngeneic to C3Hf/Kam mice using Western blot analysis. The tumors, growing in the right hind legs of mice, were 8 mm in diameter at the time of analysis. These tumors greatly differ in their radioresponse, assessed by TCD50 assay, and in their susceptibility to radiation-induced apoptosis. RESULTS: Protein levels of these oncogenes varied among tumors, with p21(WAF1/CIP1) showing the greatest variation: its mean densitometric value ranged from 1 to 19. Bcl-2 levels also showed broad variation in densitometric values, from 1 to 10. In comparison, bax and p53 (7 of 8 tumors contained wild-type p53) varied much less among different tumor types; their variation was within a 5-fold range, and the level of p53 was similar in 6 of 8 tumors. Tumor radioresponse correlated significantly (R = 0.77, p = 0.02) only with the magnitude of p21(WAF1/CIP1)expression: tumors with high levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1)were less radiocurable than those with lower levels. Tumor radiocurability showed a significant positive correlation (p = 0.02) with the extent of radiation-induced apoptosis, indicating that tumors that responded to radiation with higher percentages of apoptosis were more curable by radiation. Despite a strong trend to correlation, (p = 0.15), p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression did not correlate significantly with radiation-induced apoptosis, which suggested that p21(WAF1/CIP1) influenced tumor radioresponse by mechanisms beyond that of apoptosis induction. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that murine tumors exhibit wide variation in constitutive levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) which had a significant relationship with tumor radioresponse: tumors with high levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) were less radiocurable than those with lower levels. These findings support the concept that p21(WAF1/CIP1) is a major determinant of tumor radioresponse in vivo, and may have important clinical implications. The pretreatment assessment of p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein could serve as a useful predictor of radiotherapy outcome and may assist in selecting an effective treatment modality.