RESUMO
To investigate the expression of p21 and p27 factors in gallbladder cancer [GBC], and to correlate their expression with clinicopathological parameters: age, gender, stage, invasion, and grade. Thirty-two surgically resected specimens were collected between 1994-2001 from different health centers in north Jordan. Tissues belong to 25 females and 7 males were examined immunohistochemically. The study took place in the Pathology Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan. Levels of p21 were found in 75% and p27 in 25%. Furthermore, p21 was expressed in 50% of the specimens which are belong to patients with ages <64 years, whereas all specimens for ages >64 years have p21WAF1/CIP1 expression [p=0.001]. The expression of p21 between advanced stages [stages III and IV] was 89.5% and early stages [stages I and II] was 53.8% [p=0.031]. The p27 expression was markedly decreased in GBC cases [25%] and there were no significant correlation between p27KIP1 expression and all clinicopathological parameters including gender, World Health Organization grades, stages, and invasion, whereas the expression of p21 was 75% and there was a significant correlation between p21 and the clinicopathological parameters including gender, stages, and invasion