Expression of p16 in human gliomas and its significance

Objective: To explore the expression of p16 and its relationship with progression of human brain glioma.Methods: p16 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in 68 cases of glioma and 10 cases of normal brain tissues.Nucleic acid hybridization in situ and multiplex polymerase chain reaction(M-PCR)were used to examine the expression of p16 mRNA and DNA in these tissues.Results: Expression of p16 protein and mRNA was higher in glioma grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ than in Ⅲ-Ⅳ(P<0.01-P<0.005).By using of M-PCR,the difference in expression of p16 between glioma grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ and Ⅲ-Ⅳ was not significant(P>0.05).Conclusions: Deletion of p16 perhaps had relationship with the occurrence of gliomas;the low expression of p16 may play an important role in progression in human brain gliomas.