Image analysis (DNA ploidy) and expression of c-erb B-2 and p53 in imprint smears of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To co-evaluate DNA analysis and the expression of c-erb B-2 and p53 oncoproteins with the histologic type and the other known prognostic factors of breast cancer.


METHODS
Sixty-five imprint smears from breast surgical specimens were examined by immunocytochemical staining for c-erb B-2 and p53 and routine pap staining. The immunostaining was considered positive for c-erb B-2 if the cancer cells showed specific membrane staining and for p53 specific nuclear staining. In 30 breast carcinoma imprints, DNA ploidy was evaluated by an image analysis technique using a SAMBA 2005 analyser.


RESULTS
From the total number of 53 breast carcinomas which were evaluated in our study 25 (47.1%) showed c-erb B-2 immunopositivity, while 16 (30.18%) exhibited p53 positive nuclear immunoreactivity. Ten out of 13 (76.92%) aneuploid breast carcinomas were positive for c-erb B-2 while five out of 13 (38.46%) showed immunopositivity for p53.


CONCLUSIONS
From our findings it seems that detection of c-erb B-2 and p53 expression in samples of breast carcinomas could be an important prognostic factor and may identify patients with more aggressive disease.
Malle
D
D
Cytopathology Dept., "Theagenion" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Patakiouta
F
F
Bousoulegas
A
A
Karakitsos
P
P
Destouni
C
C
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53