Expression of p27Kip1 in bladder cancers: immunohistochemical study and prognostic value in a series of 95 cases

Prognostic value of p27Kip1 immunohistochemical expression was evaluated in a series of 95 bladder carcinomas. Low p27Kip1 expression was correlated with higher tumor grade (P=0.01) and stage (P=0.009), associated with poor overall survival (P=0.01) and, for superficial cancers, with disease-free survival (P=0.05). Thirty-five cases exhibited a heterogeneous expression related in some instances to tumoral architecture. Seventeen cases showed a cytoplasmic reactivity related to low nuclear expression (P=0.057). Loss of p27Kip1 expression is a pejorative event in bladder tumors and inhibition of p27Kip1 degradation could offer new therapeutic ways.