[Flow cytometry-pathology combined study of breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relation between histopathologic grading and some of the cytogenetic and molecular biology characteristics of breast cancer.


METHODS
On the basis of estrogen receptor (ER) expression, DNA content, S-phase fraction (SPF), bcl-2 and mutant p53 protein (mtp53) expression were examined by FCM in 121 breast cancer patients. In 66 patients with invasive ductal breast cancer, histopathologic grading was also examined.


RESULTS
The aneuploidy rate and DNA index (DI) were significantly different in grade I, II and III breast cancer. SPF and mtp53 expression significantly increased with increase in histopathologic grading (P < 0.05), but bcl-2 did not show this trend. SPF and mtp53 expression were significantly more in breast cancer with negative ER than in those with positive ER (P < 0.05). Again, no such differences in bcl-2 regardless of ER expression. Correlations existed between DI vs SPF, DI vs mtp53, and SPF vs mtp53 expressions (P < 0.01) but bcl-2 did not correlate with any one of them.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytogenetic and molecular biology studies on the basis of histopathologic grading may provide more information in prognostic prediction of breast cancer.
Yu
Zhi-yong
ZY
Department of Breast Cancer, Shandong Tumor Hospital & Institute, Jinan 250117, China. Drzhiyongyu@yahoo.com
Yu
Jin-ming
JM
Wu
Tai-huang
TH
Zhuo
Pei-ying
PY
Wang
Sheng-fang
SF
Li
Mei
M
Zhang
Xia
X
Lü
Bao-yu
BY
Liu
Yan-bing
YB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016196:S Phase; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53