Bcl-2 and p53 expression in node-negative breast carcinoma: a study with long-term follow-up.
Bcl-2 and p53 gene products (Bcl-2, p53) are important regulators of apoptosis and cell proliferation, and their immunohistochemical expression may help to identify high-risk breast cancer patients. The authors evaluated p53 and Bcl-2 immunoreactivity in 178 node-negative breast cancers (NNBC) with long-term follow-up (median, 60 months). Bcl-2 was seen in 111 (62%) cases, and was significantly associated with small tumor size, nonductal morphology, low tumor grade, estrogen-receptor (ER) positivity, and p53 negativity. p53 overexpression (ie, > 15% reactive nuclei) was observed in 31 (17%) cases, and was associated with lower age, large tumor size, ductal morphology, high tumor grade, negative ER status, and lack of Bcl-2 immunoreactivity. In univariate analysis, the variables associated with short relapse-free survival (RFS) were large tumor size (P = .002), high histological grade (P = .01), high mitotic count (P = .03), and high Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) (P = .0002). In multivariate analysis (final model), only the NPI was of independent prognostic value concerning RFS.
Department of Histopathology, S. Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
M
M
Barbareschi
O
O
Caffo
S
S
Veronese
R D
RD
Leek
P
P
Fina
S
S
Fox
M
M
Bonzanini
S
S
Girlando
L
L
Morelli
C
C
Eccher
F
F
Pezzella
C
C
Doglioni
P
P
Dalla Palma
A
A
Harris
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53