P27, SKP2, and extra-cellular signal-related kinase signalling in human salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma

SummaryExtra-cellular signal-related kinase (ERK) can modulate P27 in several ways. ERK is phosphorylated in a subset of salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). We determined immunohistochemical expression of P27, SKP2, cyclin A, Ki67, phospho-RB, and phospho-ERK in 43 MEC. SKP2 correlated with tumour size, microscopic grade, and a worse prognosis. Cyclin A and Ki67 also predicted prognosis, and were correlated with SKP2. P27 did not predict prognosis. P27 had no inverse relationship with SKP2, and correlated with neither Ki67 nor cyclin A. Instead, P27 high expressers had higher levels of phospho-ERK and phospho-RB. When highly expressed, P27 co-localized with cyclin D1 in the nuclei. Relationships of P27 with ERK and RB and its nuclear co-localization with cyclin D1 favour the hypothesis that P27 is in complexes with cyclin D1. This may explain why P27 in contrast to SKP2 and cyclin A does not correlate with tumour cell proliferation and prognosis.