p27KIP1-expression in human renal cell cancers: implications for clinical outcome.

Background: p27Kip1 (p27) protein is an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase complexes and prevents progression of cells from the G1- to the S-phase of the cell cycle. Decreased p27 expression has been shown to be associated with aggressive tumor behavior and decreased patient survival in numerous human malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate p27 expression in renal cell cancer and to assess its association with stage and grade as well as its relationship to patient outcome.