title: An immunohistochemical study of p21 and p53 expression in primary node-positive breast carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  p21, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase, is involved in the p53 pathway of growth control. Its expression has been linked to cellular differentiation. It has been implicated in p53-mediated growth arrest following DNA damage and in terminally differentiated cells. This study analysed p21 and p53 expression, in a series of node-positive patients with breast carcinoma and examined histopathological parameters of the tumour and the prognostic implications of p21 and p53 expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five consecutive patients with node-positive disease and at least 3 years follow-up were identified. Sections were stained for p53 and p21 using monoclonal antibodies. Results were expressed as percentage positive cells, and over 20% considered positive for p53 and over 10% considered for p21.
  
  
  RESULTS
  p21 was overexpressed (>10% of cells positive) in 65% of patients and p53 was overexpressed (>20% of cells positive in 68%. The mean (SEM) level of p21 staining was 5.7(0.8)% and was 54.9(4.0)% for p53. There was no correlation between p21 and p53 expression (r=0.071 P=0.5). There were no significant differences in demographic criteria between patients that were p21 positive or negative and p53 positive or negative. There were no significant differences in tumour type, grade or stage between the groups. p21 expression did not have prognostic significance; however, p53 positivity was associated with a worse prognosis, which remained when controlled for stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated p21 overexpression in 65% of patients with node-positive breast carcinoma. Levels did not correlate with p53 status and unlike p53 failed to have prognostic significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Tallaght, 24, Ireland.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: O'Hanlon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacConmara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Azzawi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeffers
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Keane
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53