Expression of retinoblastoma protein in human breast cancer: an immunohistochemical study.
The product of the human retinoblastoma gene (pRb) is a nuclear phosphoprotein that is thought to function as a tumor suppressor. Heterogeneous expression of the Rb gene product contributes to the genesis of a diverse group of human neoplasma such as breast, prostate, small cell lung, bladder carcinomas and leukemia. The clinical importance of Rb function demands a reproducible Rb immunohistochemical assay to distinguish Rb+ from Rb- tumor cells. We report an immunohistochemical study to detect Rb protein in a series of 50 invasive breast cancers. Our results support the hypothesis that the Rb gene functions as both a cell growth factor and a tumor suppressor.
Bianchi
S
S
Istituto di Anatomia e Istologia Patologica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy.
Calzolari
A
A
Giannelli
E
E
Giordano
A
A
Zampi
G
G
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016161:Genes, Retinoblastoma; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein