THE EXPRESSION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF P53 AND P21(WAF1/CIP1) IN THYROID CARCINOMA

Objective To determine the expression of P53 and P21 (WAF1/CIP1) in thyroid carcinomas and its relationship with development and prognosis of the carcinoma. Methods 90 cases of thyroid tissues (60 thyroid carcinomas, 10 thyroid adenomas, 10 goitres and 10 normal thyroid tissues) were studied by SP immunohistochemical method. Results Positive immunoreactivity of P53 and P21(WAF1/CIP1) was found only in thyroid carcinomas. The positive rate of the P53 and P21 is 53.3% and 41.7% respectively. The positive-staining rates of P53 were higher in cases of undifferentiated carcinomas, positive metastasis lymph nodes or in stage Ⅲ, Ⅳ than those in the cases of well-differentiated, no metastasis lymph nodes, or in stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ. In addition, the positive-staining of P21(WAF1/CIP1) were lower in cases of undifferentiated carcinomas, positive metastasis lymph nodes or stage Ⅲ, Ⅳ than that in the cases of well-differentiated, no metastasis lymph nodes or in stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ. The P21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression rate in the P53 positive group was lower than that in the P53 negative group (P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of P21(WAF1/CIP1) protein in thyroid cancer is related to P53-depend pathway and P53-independent pathway, mainly the P53-depend pathway. Examination of expression of P53 and P21 (WAF1/ CIP1) proteins may be helpful to judge the thyroid cancer's behavior and prognosis.