The significance of c-erbB-2 overexpression and p53 expression in patients with axillary lymph node--negative breast cancer: a tissue microarray study

Int J Surg Pathol. 2007 Apr;15(2):98-109. doi: 10.1177/1066896906299124.

Abstract

We conducted this study to examine whether the expression of c-erbB-2 and p53 is the prognostic indicator for patients with early-stage breast cancer in which axillary lymph node metastasis is absent. We examined 326 patients with early-stage breast cancer in which axillary lymph node metastasis is absent. Tissue microarrays were constructed. Following this, immunohistochemical staining was done for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), c-erbB2, and p53. The results were as follows: (1) expression of c-erbB-2 was correlated with other clinicopathologic factors (eg, patient's age, presence of menopause, tumor size, histologic and nuclear grade, and presence of hormone receptors such as ER and PR); and (2) expression of p53 was correlated with survival rate, patient's age, presence of menopause, and tumor size. However, these results were not statistically significant. In conclusion, our results indicate that expression of c-erbB-2 and p53 did not have any prognostic value in patients with early-stage breast cancer in which axillary lymph node metastasis is absent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Axilla
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Lymph Nodes
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Tissue Array Analysis
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Receptor, ErbB-2