RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The study investigated the expression and the clinicopathological significance of p53, p27, Ki-67, E-cadherin, and HER2 in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC) from Tunisian patients. We performed a retrospective study of 66 UTUC. Main clinicopathological features were reported. The expression of p53, p27, Ki-67, E-cadherin, and HER2 was investigated by immunohistochemistry on whole tissue section. RESULTS: Expression of p53, Ki-67, p27, E-cadherin, and HERE2 was reported in 36.4%, 69.7%, 90.9%, 100%, and 0% of cases, respectively. p53 expression was associated with stage (p = 0.001), positive surgical margin (p = 0.005), and shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS; Log Rank test, p = 0.026). Ki-67 and p27 expression was associated with stage (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and grade (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Using Kaplan-Meier test, the positive surgical margin was associated with shorter RFS compared to free surgical margin (Log Rank test, p = 0.031). Moreover, in univariate Cox regression analysis, surgical margin (p = 0.041; HR 0.325, 95% CI 0.110-0.956) and p53 expression (p = 0.035; HR 0.328, 95% CI 0.116-0.925) were the significant factors associated with RFS. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our findings suggest that positive surgical margin and p53 expression were potential prognostic factors of UTUC since both were associated with shorter RFS in Tunisian patients.