Proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index and p53 expression predict outcome for breast cancer patients with four or more lymph node metastases.
In general, extensive lymph node metastasis indicates poor prognosis in breast cancer. Nevertheless, some patients with this condition survive for a long time without recurrent disease. This study involved 112 breast cancer patients with four or more lymph node metastases and without distant metastasis who underwent surgery. p53 expression was associated with shorter overall and disease-free survival. High PCNA labeling index was associated with shorter overall disease-free survival. p53-negative and low-PCNA patients survived much longer than p53-positive and high-PCNA patients. This study showed that p53-negative or low-PCNA index patients have relatively good prognoses despite extensive lymph node metastasis.
Takashima
T
T
Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Medical School, Abeno-Ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan. tsutomu-@rd5.so-net.ne.jp
Onoda
N
N
Ishikawa
T
T
Ogawa
Y
Y
Kato
Y
Y
Fujimoto
Y
Y
Sowa
M
M
Hirakawa-Y S Chung
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53