Comparative predictive value of three prognostic markers--S-phase fraction, PCNA and Mitotic count on axillary lymph node metastasis in carcinoma breast.
BACKGROUND
Axillary lymph node metastasis is the single most important prognostic factor in carcinoma of the breast. Therefore, prognostic markers that may reliably predict probability of lymph node (LN) metastases are of great value. This study was conducted to compare the predictive value of two novel prognostic / proliferative markers i.e. S-phase fraction (SPF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in parallel with mitotic index.


METHODS
Data of consecutive cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast diagnosed from July 2003 to July 2004 at the section of the Histopathology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, were reviewed. Atotal of 112 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast with axillary LN sampling were selected. SPF was calculated by flow cytometry while PCNA staining was done by immunohistochemistry. Mitotic count was calculated according to modified Bloom and Richardson's grading guidelines.


RESULTS
It was observed that the number of axillary LN metastases was increased with higher SPF (p value: 0.008). However no significant difference was found between the results of various categories of PCNA on axillary LN metastases (p value: 0.182) and mitotic count with axillary lymph node metastases (p value: 0.324).


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that mitotic count and / PCNA alone cannot be used in predicting axillary LN metastases. SPF was found to be a more reliable marker compared to PCNAreactivity and conventional mitotic count in predicting axillary LN metastases.
Pervez
Shahid
S
Department of Pathology & Microbiology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. shahid.pervez@aku.edu
Khan
Muhammad Nadeem
MN
Nasir
Muhammad Israr
MI
D001365:Axilla / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008938:Mitosis; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010154:Pakistan; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D016196:S Phase
D015415:Biomarkers; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen