title: Breast cancer patients with p53 Pro72 homozygous genotype have a poorer survival.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The p53 R72P polymorphism has been suggested to play a role in many cancers, including breast cancer. Our aim was to evaluate association of R72P with breast cancer risk as well as histopathologic features of the breast tumors and survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  The germ line R72P genotype was defined among 939 Finnish familial and 888 unselected breast cancer patients and 736 healthy population controls. The clinical and biological variables were tested for association by univariate analysis and the effects of several variables on survival by Cox's proportional hazards regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of the genotypes was similar in all groups studied, suggesting no association with breast cancer risk. Unselected breast cancer patients with 72P homozygous genotype presented significantly more often with lobular carcinoma, whereas R72 allele carriers had a significantly higher frequency of ductal carcinomas (P = 0.004). No significant association with other histopathologic variables, like tumor grade, hormone receptor status (estrogen and progesterone receptors), or tumor-node-metastasis stage, was observed. Survival analysis showed that unselected breast cancer patients with 72P homozygous genotype had significantly poorer survival than patients with other genotypes (P = 0.003). This effect on survival was independent of p53 expression in the tumors and multivariate analysis showed that 72P homozygous genotype was overall an independent prognostic factor (risk ratio of death, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.3; P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest no effect of either R72P allele on breast cancer risk but a significantly reduced survival for 72P homozygous breast cancer patients. The finding of codon 72 genotype as an independent prognostic marker for breast cancer warrants further studies.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Tommiska
authors: Hannaleena
authors: H
authors: Eerola
authors: Mira
authors: M
authors: Heinonen
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Salonen
authors: Milja
authors: M
authors: Kaare
authors: Jonna
authors: J
authors: Tallila
authors: Ari
authors: A
authors: Ristimäki
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: von Smitten
authors: Kristiina
authors: K
authors: Aittomäki
authors: Päivi
authors: P
authors: Heikkilä
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Blomqvist
authors: Heli
authors: H
authors: Nevanlinna
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53