Expression of Mcl-1 and p53 proteins predicts the survival of patients with T3 gastric carcinoma

Abstract

Background. The expression of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) and p53 proteins was investigated for clinicopathological and prognostic significance in patients with gastric carcinoma. Methods. Mcl-1 protein was immunohistochemically examined in 182 patients with gastric carcinoma. The overexpression of p53 was also analyzed in T3 gastric carcinomas. Results. The expression of Mcl-1 was detected in 127 (69.8%) patients with gastric carcinoma. Mcl-1 was detected significantly more frequently in the undifferentiated type (P < 0.05) and in the advanced stage of disease (P < 0.05). The prognosis of patients with an Mcl-1-positive tumor was significantly worse than that of those with an Mcl-1-negative tumor (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that the expression of Mcl-1 was an independent prognostic factor, as were lymph node metastasis and tumor size. There was no significant relationship between the expression of Mcl-1 and p53. In patients with T3 gastric carcinoma who underwent curative surgery; however, Mcl-1(-)/p53 (-) tumor demonstrated the best postoperative survival rate, whereas Mcl-1(+)/p53(+) tumor had the worst. Conclusion. The expression of Mcl-1 is an indicator of tumor progression and postoperative recurrence in patients with gastric carcinoma. Combined analysis of Mcl-1 and p53 proteins may accurately predict the survival of patients with T3 gastric carcinoma.