Node-negative breast cancers with p53(-)/HER2-neu(-) status may identify women with very good prognosis.
BACKGROUND
The contribution of p53 and HER-2/neu to the management of node-negative breast cancer (NNBC) could be improved by combining their results.


METHODS
We studied paraffin-embedded primary tumors for p53 (BP-53-12-1) (n=57) and HER2/neu (pAB1) (n=63) from NNBC patients. The results were grouped in a negative (p53(-)/neu(-)) versus a positive group (one or both overexpressed). The association between both groups (negative and positive) and clinicopathologic parameters, S-phase fraction and DNA ploidy, and patients' outcome, was analyzed.


RESULTS
In 28% of the tumors p53 was overexpressed, and HER2/neu in 11%. Sixty-five percent (37 out of 57) were p53(-)/neu(-), and 35% overexpressed one (31.5%) or both (3.5%) oncoproteins. Significant correlations were found between p53(-)/neu(-) tumors and age greater than 50 (p=0.003), S-phase fraction lower than 7 (p=0.03), and positive estrogen receptor contents (p=0.049). Actuarial 5-year disease-free and overall survival for p53(-)/neu(-) tumors were 88% and 97%, respectively, versus 50% and 66%, for tumors overexpressing one or both oncoproteins (p=0.004).
Albanell
J
J
Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain.
Bellmunt
J
J
Molina
R
R
García
M
M
Caragol
I
I
Bermejo
B
B
Ribas
A
A
Carulla
J
J
Gallego
O S
OS
Español
T
T
Solé Calvo
L A
LA
D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D012306:Risk; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53