Immunohistochemical detection of H-ras protooncoprotein p21 indicates favorable prognosis in node-negative breast cancer patients.
We tested primary breast carcinoma tissues from 297 patients using a monoclonal antibody (clone 235-1.7.1.) for the expression of p21(ras). 58% of tumors were p21(ras)-positive. When calculated in a univariate fashion, p21 expression correlated with proliferation activity (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) only. Using the log-rank test (median observation time 94 months) a significantly worse prognosis (disease-free survival, overall survival) relation was found with larger tumors, nodal involvement, anaplasia, rising proliferation activity, and lack of steroid receptors. Detection of p21(ras) correlated with a more favorable prognosis but only in node-negative patients. Stepwise correlation according to the Cox hazard model ranked p21 expression as a most significant predictor of prognosis second only to nodal status. These data suggest that detection of p21(ras) indicates the presence of a parameter which may act as tumor suppressor and benefit patients' survival.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cologne, Germany.
U J
UJ
Göhring
T
T
Schöndorf
V R
VR
Kiecker
M
M
Becker
C
C
Kurbacher
A
A
Scharl
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate
C501009:HRAS protein, human; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)