Increased p16 and p53 protein expression predicts poor prognosis in mucosal melanoma

// Hanbin Chen 1, * , Yangyang Li 2, * , Yin Long 3 , Erjiang Tang 3 , Rongrong Wang 2 , Kate Huang 2, * , Congying Xie 1, * and Guorong Chen 2, * 1 Department of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China 2 Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China 3 Center for Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yangpu, Shanghai, China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Kate Huang, email: handyman2002@163.com Congying Xie, email: wzxiecongying@163.com Guorong Chen, email: chengr1978@aliyun.com Key words: p16 protein, p53 protein, mucosal melanoma, prognosis of mucosal melanoma Received: April 07, 2017     Accepted: May 10, 2017     Published: June 05, 2017 ABSTRACT Primary mucosal melanoma (MM) is a rare, and aggressive, neoplasm with a poor prognosis. To date, few prognostic markers of MM have been well-defined. The aim of this study is to clarify the prognostic value of p53 and p16 proteins in predicting the clinical outcome of Chinese patients with MM. A total of 59 MM samples were contained from biopsy specimens, and, expressions of p53 and p16 proteins were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate the association of these proteins with the overall survival of MM patients. Increased p16 expression was significantly associated with reduced survival at three years (P=0.039). Increased p53 expression correlates with reduced one-year (P=0.025), and, two-year survival (P=0.037). Increased p53 and p16 protein expression may be helpful prognostic indicators for the management of these patients.