title: Correlation of Ki-67 and MCM-2 proliferative marker expression with grade of histological malignancy (G) in ductal breast cancers.
abstract: The study aimed at examining a relationship between expression of Ki-67 antigen and minichromosome maintenance 2 protein (MCM-2) and a grade of histological malignancy G in ductal breast cancers. The function of widely used marker of proliferation Ki-67 is still not clear. In contrast, the MCM-2 protein is well known to play an important role in controlling the cell cycle. Both proteins represent small protein molecules, which manifest nuclear expression only during cell division of normal and neoplastic cells. Their expression is noted in several malignant tumours. These studies were conducted on 56 archival paraffin blocks of ductal breast cancers. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed using monoclonal Ki-67- and MCM-2-specific antibodies. Statistical analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between expressions of two proteins (r=0.6; p<0.05). The most intense expression of these two markers was demonstrated in G3 grade cancers. Statistical analysis showed more pronounced expression of Ki-67 antigen in G3 grade cancers as compared to cancers of G1 and G2 grades (p<0.001) and, in the case of MCM-2 protein, a more pronounced expression in G3 grade cancers, as compared to those of G1 (p<0.05) or G2 grade (p<0.01). The results obtained in our study suggest that MCM-2 could be used as a marker of proliferation in breast carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Lower Silesian Oncology Centre, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wojnar
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kobierzycki
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krolicka
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pula
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podhorska-Okolow
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dziegiel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D064111:Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C084859:MCM2 protein, human; D064111:Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2