Clusterin overexpression and relapse-free survival in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
The prognostic significance of the antiapoptotic protein secretory clusterin overexpression in breast cancer is unclear.


METHODS
Secretory clusterin expression was explained in three hundred and fifty-two patients with breast cancer by immunohistochemistry. Clusterin overexpression was tested for correlation with overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS).


RESULTS
The overall frequency of clusterin overexpression was 52% (178 out of 342) in breast cancer; 44% for in situ carcinomas and 53% for invasive cancer. Among fifty-six patients with tumor recurrence, clusterin overexpression was found in 74% (14 out of 19) in breast cancer <T2 stage and 51% (19 out of 37) in >or=T2 stage breast cancer. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that clusterin overexpression was a prognostic factor for RFS in breast cancer <T2 stage (mean RFS, 79.8 vs. 73.5 months, p=0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that clusterin overexpression might be a predictive factor for recurrence in <T2 stage breast cancer.
Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Jongro-Ku, Seoul 110-746, South Korea.
Cha Kyong
CK
Yom
Hee-Yeon
HY
Woo
Sun Young
SY
Min
So Young
SY
Kang
Hee Sung
HS
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051152:Clusterin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate
C495242:CLU protein, human; D051152:Clusterin