Expression of survivin and p53 proteins and their correlation with hormone receptor status in Indian breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
In invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), many antiapoptotic and proapoptotic genes regulate disease outcome. Hormone receptor-mediated mechanisms have also been shown to prevent apoptosis. Therefore, relations between hormone receptor status and other molecular markers need further examination.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we analyzed the expression of apoptosis-regulating genes, viz., Survivin and mutant p53, in benign breast disease (fibroadenoma) and IDC patients. Results were then correlated with hormone receptor status of the patients.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 63 untreated female patients with IDC and 32 female patients with fibroadenoma were used. Expression of Survivin and mutant p53 was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining method.


METHODS
Fisher exact test and nonparametric correlation test (Spearman rank correlation test) were performed. Results : In fibroadenoma, 53% of patients expressed Survivin and 13% of patients expressed p53 protein. Statistically significant increase in Survivin and p53 protein expression was observed in carcinoma cases. Survivin expression correlated negatively with progesterone receptor (PR) status, but its expression was independent of estrogen receptor (ER) status. p53 expression showed negative correlation with both ER and PR status.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased expression of Survivin and p53 in IDC patients and correlation with hormone receptors suggest that Survivin and p53 along with hormone receptors status are likely to contribute significantly to apoptosis resistance and may serve as therapeutic target that could increase the effectiveness of conventional breast cancer therapy.
Ranade
K J
KJ
Department of Biochemistry, T. N. Medical College, B. Y. L. Nair Hospital, Mumbai, India.
Nerurkar
A V
AV
Phulpagar
M D
MD
Shirsat
N V
NV
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007194:India; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000502:physiology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D000077022:Survivin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D000077022:Survivin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53