Abstract: Abstract： Objective: To study the relationship between the homozygous deletion of P16 tumor suppressor gene and the occurrence and development of kidney cancer,as pathogenesis basis of renal cell carcinoma. In this study, we detected P16 gene mRNA of renal cell carcinoma by RT-PCR method. METHODS: The molecular biology methods such as RT-PCR were applicated to detected the P16mRNA expression of 24 cases of renal cell carcinoma and 10 control group (non-cancerous kidney tissue). Results: In 24 cases of renal cell carcinoma, P16 gene deletion in 14 cases (58.3%), intermediate expression in 6 cases (25%), weakly positive in 4 cases (16.7%). The control group (10 normal kidney tissue) were strongly positive (100%). P16 gene change in renal cell carcinoma is not associated with tumor grade and clinical staging. Conclusion: P16 tumor suppressor gene may play an important role in renal cell carcinoma growth, invasion and metastasis, may have potential clinical value in the diagnosis of kidney cancer and to determine prognosis.

Key words: renal cell carcinoma, P16 gene, RT-PCR