Rb/p16 pathway in non-small-cell lung cancers

Objective: To investigate the expression of Retinoblastoma(Rb)and p16 in non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and their relationship to clinicopathological factors.Methods: Eighty cases of NSCLC were studied for expression of Rb and p16 by immunohistochemical technique SP method.Results: Fifty-six(70.00%)and 47(58.75%)cases of 80 patients revealed loss of protein expression for RB and p16 respectively.The correlation was found between Rb and p16(P<0.05).Loss of p16 expression was noted in most squamous and in a small fraction of adenocarcinomas(P<0.05).Notably,loss of Rb expression was associated with T stage(P<0.05).Conclusions: Our results suggest that disruption of Rb/p16 pathway is frequently invoved in NSCLC.