Cytoplasmic, but not nuclear, p16 expression may signal poor prognosis in high-grade astrocytomas

The negative consequences of the cytoplasmic localization of p16 in patients with high-grade astrocytomas, on their prognosis, was investigated. p16 Expression was examined in 20 anaplastic astrocytoma and 42 glioblastoma patients by immunohistochemical analysis, and the relationship between both cytoplasmic and nuclear p16 expression and prognosis analyzed. The cytoplasmic expression of p16 statistically correlated with poor prognosis. On the other hand, no correlation was observed between p16 nuclear expression and patient survival. The cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of p16 appears to be an unfavorable prognostic indicator in high-grade astrocytoma patients. The localization of p16 expression should be determined when evaluating the prognosis of these patients.