title: Caspase-3 and caspase-6 in ductal breast carcinoma: a descriptive study.
abstract: Caspases are the main point in the apoptotic process. We have collected some information from 210 cases of Ductal breast cancer (pT1 - pT2) such as tumour size, histological differentiation degree, lymph node status and tumor necrosis in the infiltrating component and we have evaluated the number of apoptotic cells or bodies by TUNEL technique as well as immunohistochemical studies to evaluate the expression of caspase 3 and caspase 6, and proliferation index. Our results show that lymph node status and cell atypism are independent prognostic factors for recurrence and mortality and only tumour size is an independent prognostic factor for recurrence. However, the apoptotic index and the immunohistochemical expression of caspases and cell proliferation index have not turned out to be independent prognostic factors neither for recurrence nor mortality. These results show that classic prognostic factors known until now are the most important factors to predict the evolution of the illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sant Pau i Santa Tecla Hospital, Tarragona, Spain. sblazquez@xarxatecla.net
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blázquez
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sirvent
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olona
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelegri
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palacios
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D053178:Caspase 6; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505514:CASP6 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053178:Caspase 6; D020169:Caspases