Alterations of cell cycle regulators affecting the RB pathway in nonfamilial retinoblastoma Journal Article


Authors: Orjuela, M.; Orlow, I.; Dudas, M.; Ponce-Castaeda, M. V.; Ridaura, C.; Leal, C.; Salazar, A.; Abramson, D.; Gerald, W.; Cordon-Cardo, C.
Article Title: Alterations of cell cycle regulators affecting the RB pathway in nonfamilial retinoblastoma
Abstract: We undertook the present study to examine alterations affecting the RB pathway in the G1 checkpoint and to determine their potential clinical significance in children affected with nonfamilial retinoblastoma. Using immunohistochemistry, patterns of expression of pRB, p16/INK4A, and E2F1 were analyzed in tissue from a cohort of 86 well-characterized patients with nonfamilial retinoblastoma diagnosed at the "Instituto Nacional de Pediatria" in Mexico City. The relationship of these phenotypes to proliferative index was assessed by analysis of Ki67 antigen expression, pRB expression was found in 11 (13%) cases. Using a hypophosphorylated specific pRB antibody, we observed low levels of underphosphorylated pRB expression in only 1 of 9 evaluable positive cases. These data suggest that the detected pRB products were hyperphosphorylated and thus had decreased functional activity. Increased p16 nuclear expression was found in only 6 tumors. No tumors showed deletions or mobility shifts of the INK4A gene. Undetectable pRB levels were significantly associated with undetectable p16 expression (odds ratio, 10.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-81.3; P = .03). All tumors showed nuclear immunoreactivities for E2F1 and Ki67. Increased Ki67 proliferative index was associated with increased staining for E2FI (r = .44; P = .008) and increasing clinical stage (P = .03). Among children with unilateral disease, the mean Ki67 proliferative index was significantly higher in children with advanced clinical disease (stages 3 and 4) (mean 81.25; SD 6.78) than in those with earlier stage disease (mean 69.50; SD 9.45) (P = 0.001). Among children with bilateral disease, however, the mean proliferative index was not significantly higher for children with advanced clinical stage. When examining all cases together, there was a significant trend toward increasing proliferative index with increasing clinical stage (P = .03). In unilateral tumors, we also found that presence of detectable pRB was associated with a lower percentage of cells expressing E2F1 (46.7% v 70.8%) (P = 0.05), whereas there was no association between presence of pRB and E2F1 among bilateral tumors. We have found that expression of some of the cell cycle markers examined varies according to laterality, suggesting underlying differences in the capacity for cell cycle regulation between these 2 forms of the disease. Differences in capacities for cell cycle regulation may account for some differences in clinical behavior. Thus, the inclusion of molecular markers may become useful adjuncts to clinicopathological staging and subsequent determination of therapy. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Keywords: immunohistochemistry; child; human tissue; protein expression; protein phosphorylation; human cell; major clinical study; gene deletion; dna-binding proteins; cancer staging; neoplasm staging; ki 67 antigen; antigen expression; ki-67 antigen; phenotype; cell cycle proteins; cell cycle; cell division; protein p16; cohort analysis; age factors; retinoblastoma; retinal neoplasms; phosphorylation; transcription factors; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; carrier proteins; cell nucleus; optic nerve; dna mutational analysis; cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16; retinoblastoma protein; p16; transcription factor dp1; e2f1 transcription factor; polymorphism, single-stranded conformational; e2f; e2f transcription factors; humans; human; male; female; article
Journal Title: Human Pathology
Volume: 32
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0046-8177
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2001-05-01
Start Page: 537
End Page: 544
Language: English
DOI: 10.1053/hupa.2001.24325
PUBMED: 11381373
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 21 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. William L Gerald
    375 Gerald
  2. Irene Orlow
    247 Orlow
  3. David H Abramson
    389 Abramson
  4. Maria E Dudas
    53 Dudas