Functional p53 can modulate the relationship between E2F-1 expression and tumor kinetics in Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

E2F-1 is the best-described member of the E2F family of transcriptional factors and is particularly interesting in view of its often opposing roles. Our purpose was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of E2F-1 in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and to correlate it with proliferation and apoptosis of the tumor, clinicopathological parameters and patient outcome, as well as with expression of the downstream molecules p53 and p21. The median percentage of E2F-1-expressing Hodgkin Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells was 80.2%. A significant positive correlation was found between expression of E2F-1 and p53 (p = 0.034). Following stratification of our cases, within the group harboring functional p53, a statistically significant inverse correlation was identified between E2F-1 and Topo IIa (p = 0.019). E2F-1 is up-regulated in the context of HL and its expression is inversely associated with proliferation. It seems that functional p53 can modulate the relationship between E2F-1 expression and tumor kinetics in HL.

Keywords::

• E2F-1
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• p53
• tumor kinetics

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Professor V. Gorgoulis for many helpful discussions during the evolution of this research project.

Potential conflict of interest: Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at www.informahealthcare.com/lal.

This research was partially supported by grant 70/4/9133 from the Special Account of Funds for Research (E.L.K.E, Greece) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.