PCNA/cyclin and P-glycoprotein as prognostic factors in locally advanced breast cancer. An immunohistochemical, retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine, retrospectively, whether the immunohistochemical expression of two biologic markers of aggressively, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and PCNA/cyclin (PCNA), could be related to response to chemotherapy and prognosis in locally advanced breast cancer.


METHODS
PC 10 Mab was used to determine the proliferation index (PCNA) and C-219 Mab to determine P-gp in 25 locally advanced breast carcinomas subjected to preoperative chemotherapy with MDR-related drugs.


RESULTS
P-gp and PCNA were expressed in 76% and 100% of the tumors, respectively. No case of high P-gp expression was associated with good chemosensitivity, and all P-gp-negative cases showed the best chemotherapeutic response. P-gp and PCNA were both highly expressed in patients who developed local-regional or distant metastases. No recurrence was associated with a negative or low P-gp score.


CONCLUSIONS
Statistical analysis showed that high P-gp expression was related to a poor response to chemotherapy and a short disease-free survival. A high PCNA score was not found to be significant for predicting chemosensitivity or survival.
Botti
G
G
Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy.
Chiappetta
G
G
D'Aiuto
G
G
de Angelis
E
E
De Matteis
A
A
Montella
M
M
Picone
A
A
Cascione
F
F
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen