Objective To know the abnormal expression of the cell cycle-regulated proteins in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and their effect on tumor cell growth. Methods The expression of p16, p21, Rb and p53 protein in 47 cases were investigated by immunohistochemistry with wet autoclave pretreatment for antigen retriaval. Furthermore, tumor growth index were assessed by a novel anti-ki-67 antibody (ki-s5). Results All the expression of p53, p16, p21 and Rb protein were the nuclear stainning. The positive rates of p53, p16, p21 and Rb protein were 55%, 53%, 74% and 98% respectively. There was negative correlation between of p16, p21 or Rb protein expression and ki-67 growth index. No relation of p53 protein stainning and the expression of p21 protein was found. Conclusion In pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the negative expression of p16 protein and p21 protein may play an important role in tumor cell growth, but tumor proliferation caused by abnormality of Rb protein is rare. The expression of p21 protein was not associated with the expression of p53 protein.
