上皮性卵巢癌组织中环氧化酶-2的表达与化疗耐药及预后的相关性研究

目的：探讨上皮性卵巢癌组织中环氧化酶-2（cyclooxygenase-2，COX-2）表达与卵巢癌化疗耐药和预后的关系，以及与p53表达的相关性。方法：采用免疫组化SP法检测54例上皮性卵巢癌组织和20例正常卵巢组织中COX-2和p53表达，分析其与上皮性卵巢癌临床病理因素、化疗耐药的关系，同时对预后进行多因素的Cox生存分析。结果：COX-2和p53在上皮性卵巢癌组织中阳性表达率分别为48．1％和59．3％，正常卵巢组织均未见表达，差异有极显著性（P〈0．01）；两者间表达呈显著正相关（P=0．01）。COX-2表达与患者病理类型、手术病理分期、病理分级及年龄无关，与术后残留灶直径有显著相关性（P〈0．01）。COX-2、p53阳性表达率在耐药组和非耐药组之间相比有显著差异（P〈O．01）。多因素生存分析显示，手术病理分期、COX-2表达和术后残留灶直径是影响患者预后的独立危险因素。结论：COX-2表达与上皮性卵巢癌组织化疗耐药相关，是影响患者预后的独立危险因素。COX-2表达与抑癌基因p53的突变可能具有相互促进作用，在卵巢癌化疗耐药中起重要作用。     

卵巢上皮性癌BRCA1和p53基因表达的临床意义及相互关系研究

目的：探讨BRCA1、p53基因蛋白在卵巢上皮性癌中的表达情况及相互关系。方法：应用S-P免疫组织化学法检测50例卵巢上皮性癌组织中BRCA1和p53蛋白的表达。采用Kaplan—Meier法分析两种蛋白表达情况与患者预后的关系。结果：1)BRCA1蛋白在卵巢癌组织中的阳性表达率仅为30％，明显低于正常卵巢组织(100％)和良性肿瘤组织(90％)(P＜0．01)；BRCA1在低分化癌、有淋巴结转移的卵巢癌组织中表达减少甚至缺失。2)p53蛋白在卵巢癌组织中的表达率为64％，而在正常卵巢及良性肿瘤组织中无表达；其表达仅与病理学分级有关。3)两种基因蛋白表达比较呈显著负相关(P＜0．01)。4)患者生存随访表明，有BRCA1表达的患者平均生存期长于无表达者；而p53对生存时间无影响。结论：BRCA1基因在转录后水平的下调对卵巢上皮性癌的发生发展有重要的作用．同时BRCA1基因与p53基因协同促进肿瘤的演进恶化。     

Le^y抗原在卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达及意义

目的：探讨卵巢癌组织Le^y抗原的表达及其临床意义。方法：采用免疫组织化学SP法检测恶性、交界性、良性卵巢上皮肿瘤及正常卵巢组织中Le^y抗原的表达，并分析其与卵巢癌生物学特性之间的关系。结果：Le^y抗原在恶性卵巢上皮性癌中的阳性表达率为75．47％（40／53），明显高于交界性卵巢上皮性肿瘤（47．06％）及良性卵巢上皮性肿瘤（42．86％）（P均〈0．05）。正常卵巢组织中未检出Le^y抗原的表达。晚期卵巢上皮性癌的Le^y抗原的阳性表达率为84．21％，明显高于早期卵巢上皮性癌（53．33％），（P〈0.05）。结论：Le^y抗原与卵巢上皮性癌的发生、发展相关。Le^y抗原的表达可作为反映卵巢癌恶性潜能的一项新的指标。     

卵巢上皮性癌血清DNA中p15、p16基因纯合性丢失及其共丢失的研究

背景与目的：p15和／或p16基因高频率的丢失与卵巢癌的发生、发展及预后关系密切，在卵巢癌组织DNA中的研究已有报道，但其在血清DNA中的丢失情况尚不清楚。本研究拟对卵巢上皮性癌、卵巢囊肿及健康对照者血清DNA中的p15、p16基因纯合性丢失及共丢失现象进行研究，探讨其与卵巢癌发生、发展的相关性。方法：采用PCR技术分别对165例卵巢上皮性癌、其相应淋巴细胞、25例卵巢囊肿及15例健康对照者血清DNA中p15／p16基因纯合性丢失及共丢失情况进行检测。结果：165例卵巢上皮性癌血清DNA中，p15、p16基因纯合性丢失率及p15／P16基因共丢失率分别为27．9％（46／165）、27．3％（45／165）及24．2％（40／165），而卵巢癌患者相应的淋巴细胞DNA与卵巢囊肿及健康对照者血清DNA中均未见丢失，差异有极显著性（P值分别为0．000、0．000及0．000）。Ⅰ、Ⅱ期卵巢上皮性癌血清DNA中，p16／p15基因共丢失率为8．6％（3／35），Ⅲ期及Ⅳ期共丢失率分别为29．3％（22／75）及27．3％（15／55），差异有显著性（P=0．049）。而p15、p16基因丢失率与组织学类型无关。结论：p15、p16基因纯合性丢失及p15／p16基因共丢失现象与卵巢癌发生及发展相关，且可能为卵巢癌发生过程中的关键基因；采用血清DNA作为研究载体，可作为研究卵巢癌相关生物学特性的检测手段。     

非小细胞肺癌组织p53和c-erbB2及MRP蛋白的表达

目的探讨癌组织p53、c-erbB2、MRP蛋白表达与非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）临床病理特征的关系及其预后评估意义。方法应用免疫组织化学方法检测NSCLC患者的肺组织切除标本p53、c-erbB2、MRP蛋白表达,并与其临床病理参数进行比较分析。结果NSCLC组织p53、c-erbB2、MRP蛋白表达阳性率分别为53.9%（82/152）、44.1%（67/152）及43.4%（66/152）。p53表达与性别、细胞分化程度、临床分期、淋巴结转移有显著关系（P〈0.05）,而c-erbB2与各因素间无统计学差异,肺腺癌MRP蛋白表达阳性率（67.6%）明显高于肺鳞癌（33.0%）,有统计学差异（P〈0.05）。癌组织p53、c-erbB2、MRP 3种蛋白表达均阳性者的1、2、3年生存率明显低于均阴性者（分别P=0.02、0.01和0.00）,p53、c-erbB2、MRP蛋白表达阳性者单纯手术后生存率也明显低于阴性者（P〈0.05）;p53、c-erbB2、MRP 3种蛋白表达均阴性者预后最好,1-2种阳性者次之,3种均阳性者预后最差（P〈0.05）。术后辅助化疗组MRP、c-erbB2蛋白表达阳性者的生存率低于阴性者（P〈0.01）,但p53蛋白表达阳性与阴性患者的生存率无统计学差异（P=0.82）;MRP与c-erbB2表达双阴性者生存率显著高于双阳性者,MRP或c-erbB2单一阳性的生存率介于前两者之间（P=0.01）。多因素Cox分析显示细胞分化程度、c-erbB2是影响NSCLC患者疗效和预后的独立预测因子。结论肿瘤组织p53、c-erbB2、MRP 3种蛋白同时高表达的NSCLC病例预后较差。术后检测p53、c-erbB2、MRP表达对评估可手术NSCLC患者疗效和预后有一定意义。     

人类组织激肽释放酶6在卵巢上皮性癌中的表达及临床意义

[目的]研究人类组织激肽释放酶（kallikrein,KLK）6蛋白在卵巢上皮性癌组织及腹膜后淋巴结中的表达,探讨其在卵巢上皮性癌中的临床意义。[方法]回顾性分析卵巢肿瘤患者的临床病理资料,采用免疫组化检测72例卵巢癌、16例卵巢交界性肿瘤、20例良性卵巢上皮性肿瘤组织KLK6蛋白的表达;并采用配对设计研究KLK6蛋白在卵巢癌患者腹膜后淋巴结中的表达．探讨KLK6在卵巢上皮性癌发生、发展中的作用。[结果]KLK6在卵巢癌及交界性卵巢肿瘤中的阳性表达分别为52．8％（38／72）、25．O％（4／16）,均显著强于良性上皮性卵巢肿瘤15．0％（3／20）f19〈0．05）。KLK6阳性表达与卵巢癌的临床分期、组织学分级及淋巴结转移有关fP〈0．05）,与组织学类型无相关性（P〉0．05）;KLK6在卵巢癌原发灶与腹膜后转移淋巴结组织中的表达呈正相关（r=8．91,P=0．003）;KLK6阳性与阴性患者的平均生存时间分别为25．9个月和49．2个月（P〈O．051。[结论]KLK6高表达可能在卵巢上皮性癌的发生发展中起潜在作用,KLK6可能与卵巢上皮性癌的浸润、转移有关,KLK6是卵巢癌的不良预后因素之一。     

p53和PCNA表达与非小细胞肺癌放射敏感性及预后的关系

[目的]研究p53蛋白和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达与非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）放射敏感性和预后的关系。[方法]应用免疫组化法检测60例放疗前NSCLC组织中p53蛋白和PCNA的表达情况．分析其与放射敏感性和生存期的关系。[结果]60例NSCLC组织中p53和PCNA阳性表达率分别为63.3％（38／60）和96．7％（58／60）,高表达者分别为22例（36．7％）和42例（70．0％）。p53和PCNA表达强度与NSCLC放射敏感性均有相关性：p53与NSCLC患者预后有关．而PCNA与其无关。同时高表达的NSCLC患者3年生存率低于同时低表达患者（20．0％vs60．0％）。[结论]p53和PCNA表达与NSCLC放射敏感性有关,p53高表汰提示预后较差．两者同时高表达的NSCLC患者预后较差。     

淋巴结阴性乳腺癌p21waf1、c-erbB-2和p53蛋白表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨腋淋巴结阴性乳腺癌组织中p21^waf1、c-erbB-2和p53基因蛋白表达及其与临床病理参数和预后的关系。方法：应用免疫组化LSAB方法检测121例腋淋巴结阴性乳腺部石蜡切片中p21^waf1、c-erbB-2和p53蛋白的表达情况;同时应用Kaplan-Meier法及多变量Cox比例风险模型,分析3种蛋白表达与预后的关系。结果：（1）p21^waf1蛋白表达率为48．8％,与病理组织学分级、ER状态有关;p53蛋白表达率为36．4％,c-erbB－2蛋白表达率为26．4％,与组织学分级有关;（2）p21^waf1阳性表达与p53表达呈负相关（P＜0．01）;Cox阳性组患者无瘤生存率高于阴性组（P＜0．05）;c-erbB－2阳性组患者无瘤生存率明显低于阴性组（P＜0．01）;Cox模型分析显示仅有c-erbB－2表达对预后有显著影响。结论：乳腺癌组织p21^waf1、c-erbB-2表达与病理组织学分级有相关性;p^21waf1表达依赖于p53途径刺激;p^21waf1、c-erbB－2表达与腋淋巴结阴性乳腺癌预后有关,且c-erbB-2表达是一个独立的预后指标。     

肺癌端粒酶活性、p53、PCNA蛋白表达的联合检测及其临床意义

目的 探讨端粒酶活性p53基因和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）在肺癌发生发展中的作用，以及端粒酶与临床病理特点及p53,PCNA蛋白之间的关系。方法 TRAP法检测59例肺癌和35例癌旁正常组织中端粒酶活性，采用免疫组织化学法检测44例肺癌组织和35例癌旁正常组织中p53和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）蛋白的表达，并对端粒酶活性与临床病理特征以及p53PCNA蛋白表达的关系进行分析。结果 肺癌组织端粒酶活性,p53和PCNA蛋白阳性率分别为81．3％（48／59）、77．2％（34／44）、79．5％（35／44）；癌旁正常组织端粒酶活性,p53和PCNA蛋白阳性率分别为20．0％（7／35）、8．6％（3／35）、14．3（5／35），肺癌组织显著高于癌旁正常组织，P＜0．01，肺癌组织不同的病理类型之间、TNM各期之间以及不同的细胞分化程度之间端粒酶活性的阳性率未发现明显的差异（P＞0．05）；端粒酶活性与p53,PCNA蛋白表达之间无明显相关性。结论 端粒酶活化参与各型、各期和不同分化程度肺癌的发生发展；端粒酶在肺癌组织高表达和正常肺组织低表达的特性，有望使端粒酶成为肺癌诊断的1种标志物；p53和PCNA均参与肺癌的发生发展过程；端粒酶与p53和PCNA无明显相关性，提示肺癌是由多基因参与的疾病。     

p53与c-myc和cyclin B1在卵巢上皮性癌组织中的表达及意义

目的：研究 p53、c-myc和cyclin B1在卵巢良性肿瘤及上皮性卵巢癌组织中表达的相关性及临床意义.探讨p53、c-myc和cyclin B1在上皮性卵巢癌组织发生、发展中的作用.方法：应用免疫组化SP法检测61例上皮性卵巢癌、29例卵巢良性上皮性肿瘤和12例正常卵巢组织的p53、 c-myc和cyclin B1基因蛋白表达情况,并分析它们之间的关系.结果：上皮性卵巢癌中p53、c-myc和cyclin B1表达率分别为50.82%（31/61）、60.66%（37/61）和49.18%（30/61）; 在良性卵巢上皮性肿瘤中p53、c-myc和cyclin B1的蛋白表达率分别为10.34%（3/29）、17.24%（5/29）和13.79%（4/29）.p53、c-myc和cyclin B1在Ⅰ、Ⅱ期与Ⅲ、Ⅳ期上皮性卵巢癌组织中的阳性表达,差异均有统计学意义,P=0.032 81.p53、c-myc和cyclin B1在上皮性卵巢癌G1与G2、G3的阳性表达,差异有统计学意义,P=0.041 08.在正常卵巢组织中均未见p53、c-myc和cyclin B1蛋白的表达.结论：p53、c-myc和cyclin B1作为细胞周期调节因子参与上皮性卵巢癌的发生、发展,其协同作用促进上皮性卵巢癌的发生、发展并可能与预后有关.     

淋巴结阴性乳腺癌p21~(waf1)、c-erbB-2和p53蛋白表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨腋淋巴结阴性乳腺癌组织中ｐ２１ｗａｆ１、ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２和ｐ５３基因蛋白表达及其与临床病理参数和预后的关系。方法：应用免疫组化ＬＳＡＢ方法检测１２１例腋淋巴结阴性乳腺癌石蜡切片中ｐ２１ｗａｆ１、ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２和ｐ５３蛋白的表达情况;同时应用Ｋａｐｌａｎ－Ｍｅｉｅｒ法及多变量Ｃｏｘ比例风险模型,分析３种蛋白表达与预后的关系。结果：（１）ｐ２１ｗａｆ１蛋白表达率为 ４８． ８％,与病理组织学分级、ＥＲ状态有关; ｐ５３蛋白表达率为 ３６． ４％, ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２蛋白表达率为 ２６． ４％,与组织学分级有关;（２）ｐ２１ｗａｆ１阳性表达与 ｐ５３表达呈负相关（ Ｐ＜ ０． ０５）;（３）ｐ２１ｗａｆ１阳性组患者无瘤生存率高于阴性组（Ｐ＜０．０５）;ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２阳性组患者无瘤生存率明显低于阴性组（Ｐ＜０ ０１）;Ｃｏｘ模型分析显示仅有ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２表达对预后有显著影响。结论：乳腺癌组织ｐ２１ｗａｆ１、ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２表达与病理组织学分级有相关性;ｐ２１ｗａｆ１表达依赖于ｐ５３途径刺激; ｐ２１ｗａｆ１、、ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２表达与腋淋巴结阴性乳腺癌预后有关,且ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２表达是一个独立的预后指标。     

Prognostic significance of expression of c-ERBB-2 oncoprotein in breast cancer patients]

The c-erbB-2 oncogene, is a member of tyrosine kinase oncogene family and expected to play a role in the regulation of cell growth. In the present study, prognostic significance of the expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was investigated by immunocytochemical assay with 130 primary breast cancer patients. The positive expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was found in 53 out of 130 patients (40.8%). There was no significant correlation between expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and conventional prognostic factors, estrogen receptor (ER), axillary lymph node metastasis and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Relapse free survival rate of the patients with positive c-erbB-2 expression was significantly worse than those with negative at 49 month after operation. Similar result was found in overall survival rate but the difference was not significant. Furthermore, when patients were stratified by regional nodal status, in the patients with lymph node metastasis, the prognosis of the patients with positive c-erbB-2 expression was significantly worse than those with negative, while no significant difference was found in the patients without lymph node metastasis. These results suggest that c-erbB-2 oncoprotein may act as a prognostic factor independently, predicting the prognosis of breast cancer patients.     

Prognostic significance of p53, nm23, PCNA and c-erbB-2 in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Although the TNM stage is the most important prognostic factor for gastric cancer, there is a need for new prognostic and predictive factors, because the prognosis varies among patients of the same stage. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship of p53, nm23, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and c-erbB-2 with the clinicopathological parameters and the survival results. METHODS: For 841 patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Seoul National University Hospital from July 1996 to December 1997, the expression levels of p53, nm23, PCNA and c-erbB-2 in gastric cancer tissues were examined immunohistochemically. Also, the clinicopathological parameters such as gender, age, operation type, TNM stage and size of the tumor, histology and Lauren classification were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 568 males and 273 females (2.07:1) with a mean age of 56 years (range:25-82 years). The percentages of positive expression of p53, nm23 and c-erbB-2 were 43, 74 and 17%, respectively; 59% of tumors expressed PCNA index > or =50. p53 expression was associated with age, gender, tumor size, histology, Lauren classification, stage, nm23 expression, PCNA index >or =50 and c-erbB-2 expression. nm23 expression was associated with age, tumor size, Borrmann type, histology, Lauren classification and stage. PCNA index > or =50 was associated with age, gender, tumor size, Borrmann type, histology, Lauren classification and c-erbB-2 expression. c-erbB-2 expression was associated with gender, Borrmann type, histology and Lauren classification. p53 and nm23 were related with poor prognosis in univariate analysis. nm23 was related with poor prognosis of stage III and diffuse-type gastric cancer in univariate subgroup analysis. However, in a multivariate study, these prognostic impacts were not maintained. CONCLUSION: The expression of p53 and nm23 seems to be related with poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients who have undergone gastrectomy. However, the prognostic significance was not revealed by a multivariate analysis.     

Prolonged proliferation of primary chicken-embryo fibroblasts transfected with cdnas from the bamhi-h gene family of mareks-disease virus

We analyzed associations among p53 and c-erbB-2 expression and clinicopathologic variables and, then ascertained whether p53 and/or c-erbB-2 expression would be useful for estimating prognosis in 105 breast cancer patients. There was no significant association between p53 and c-erbB-2 expression, but the combination of p53 and c-erbB-2 expression was significantly associated with axillary lymph node metastases. Although both p53 and c-erbB-2 expressions were significant prognostic factors by univariate analysis, they did not appear to be independent prognostic factors by multivariate analysis in which nodal status was introduced using the Cox model. When nodal status was excluded, however, p53 and c-erbB-2 expression each had independent prognostic value.     

胃癌组织中p53、c-erbB-2、EGFR、nm23、E-cadherin基因表达及预后价值

寻找胃癌临床病理特征和预后的可靠性分子指标,建立一种能被临床普遍应用的简易方法。方法：应用免疫组化法检测了具有随 １７１例胃癌标本中ｐ５３、ｎｍ２３、ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２、ＥＧＦＲ和Ｅ－钙粘蛋白（Ｅ－ｃａｄｈｅｒｉｎ,简写为Ｅ－ｃａｄ）的表达。结果：（１）Ｃｏｘ比例风险模型多因素分析表明,ｐ５３,ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２,ＥＧＦＲ和Ｅ－ｃａｄ是影响胃癌预后的因子;ｐ５３、ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２及ＥＧＦＲ表达的胃癌病     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna) and C-erbb-2 oncoprotein in breast-carcinoma with correlations to histopathological parameters and prognosis

Overexpression of PCNA (more than 25% positive tumour cells) and positivity of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein were immunohistochemically demonstrated in 490 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded breast carcinomas. Overexpression of PCNA and c-erbB-2 correlated with large tumour size, presence of lymph node metastases, high histological grade (poor differentiation), and absence of steriod hormone receptors features indicating an aggressive phenotype. In univariate analysis overexpression of PCNA correlated with poor overall survival (p<0.05), whereas c-erbB-2 was of no prognostic significance. In multivariate analysis both PCNA and c-erbB-2 failed to be of independent prognostic significance. In order to identify women with different prognosis an index termed immunoscore, based upon the results of the immunoreactivity of both PCNA and c-erbB-2 was constructed. The immunoscore was correlated with tumour size, lymph node status, histological grade, and steroid hormone receptor status. In univariate analysis of survival data the immunoscore was a prognostic parameter of poor overall survival. In multivariate analysis the classical histopathological parameters such as tumour size, histological grade and progesterone receptor status turned out to be of independent prognostic significance. The immunoscore was associated with poor prognosis but did not reach independent statistical significance (p=0.08). Further studies including a larger number of patients must be carried out in order to determine the prognostic significance of the immunoscore in multivariate analysis.     

C-erbB-2 overexpression in primary breast cancer: independent prognostic factor in patients at high risk

Summary The prognostic value of c-erbB-2 protein overexpression has been evaluated in 463 patients with operable breast cancer after a median follow-up of 66 months. Overexpression was observed in 99/463 (21%) of the breast tumors. It showed significant positive correlation to histological grade (p < 0.0001) and tumor size (p < 0.02). A relationship of borderline significance was observed between c-erbB-2 protein overexpression and negative or low estrogen receptor (ER) content. No significant correlation was found to lymph node involvement or proliferating tumor cell fraction as determined by the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). After a median follow-up of 66 months (range 6 to 109 months), the overall survival of all patients amounted to 63%. Multivariate analysis revealed lymph node involvement, tumor size, histological grade, histological type, c-erbB-2 protein overexpression, progesterone receptor (PR) content, and oral contraceptive use as independent prognostic factors. In an univariate analysis, the overall survival amounted to 72% and 38% of tumor patients with negative and positive c-erbB-2 protein overexpression, respectively. The most significant finding is that c-erbB-2 overexpression has been recognized as an independent predictive factor in subsets of tumor patients who would be expected to have a generally poor prognosis, such as those indicating axillary lymph node involvement, large tumor size (> 2 cm), and PR negativity.     

Association of overexpression of tumor suppressor protein p53 with rapid cell proliferation and poor prognosis in node-negative breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence indicates that a subset of axillary node-negative (ANN) breast cancer patients can benefit from adjuvant therapy. Reliable prognostic markers are needed, however, to help clinicians identify these patients and arrive at more rational treatment decisions. PURPOSE: Mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene often result in overexpression of the p53 protein. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of p53 protein overexpression in patients with ANN breast cancer. We also studied the association between the tumor cell proliferation rate and overexpression of the p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins, both of which have been implicated in cell cycle control. The c-erbB-2 protein is the product of the ERBB2 gene. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-nine ANN cases were randomly selected from a population-based cohort of patients who had not received any kind of adjuvant chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. Overexpression of the p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins was studied immunohistochemically in archival paraffin-embedded tumor samples, using the CM-1 polyclonal and the TAb 250 monoclonal antibodies, respectively. The tumor cell proliferation rate was measured as the S-phase fraction by DNA flow cytometry. Statistical analyses were performed using BMDP software. RESULTS: High-level p53 protein overexpression, found in 41 of the 289 tumors, was most common in tumors with high histologic grade, negative estrogen receptor status, c-erbB-2 protein overexpression, DNA index greater than 1.3, or high S-phase fraction. The lowest S-phase levels were found in tumors with neither p53 nor c-erbB-2 protein overexpression; the highest levels were seen in tumors showing overexpression of both proteins (P less than .0001). Both p53 and c-erbB-2 overexpression, as well as tumor size, had independent prognostic value in multivariate analysis. Eight-year survival of patients with p53 protein overexpression was 56% compared with 81% in patients with no overexpression (relative risk, 3.7; P less than .0001). If the S-phase fraction was included in a Cox regression analysis, however, only the tumor size and the S-phase fraction emerged as independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of the p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins indicates a high malignant potential in ANN breast cancer, but it is not a significant prognostic factor independent of the cell proliferation rate. The correlation between overexpression of these proteins and an increased S-phase fraction suggests that they may confer a proliferative advantage to cancer cells in vivo.     

p53 and c-erbB-2 but not bcl-2 are predictive of metastasis-free survival in breast cancer patients receiving post-mastectomy adjuvant radiotherapy in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: Patients with breast cancer often receive radiotherapy after mastectomy if they are at a high risk of local recurrence, but the prognosis varies among patients. We conducted a study to evaluate p53, bcl-2 and c-erbB-2 as predictors of prognosis in breast cancer patients receiving post-mastectomy radiotherapy, which has not been well defined in the Taiwanese population. METHODS: We recruited 74 consecutive patients with primary operable breast cancer who were treated with mastectomy followed by locoregional radiotherapy and studied the presence of p53, bcl-2 and c-erbB-2 expressions in tumor tissues by immunohistochemical staining. Associations between the protein expressions and clinical outcomes, including local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS), were evaluated. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 55 months. Expressions of p53, bcl-2 and c-erbB-2 were observed in 14 (19%), 28 (38%) and 39 (53%) patients, respectively. Both p53 and c-erbB-2 were significant predictors of MFS. The 5-year MFS for p53-negative and p53-positive tumors were 61.2 and 35.7% (P = 0.01) and 5-year MFS for c-erbB-2-negative and c-erbB-2-positive tumors were 71.3 and 42.4% (P = 0.01). Whereas expression of bcl-2 protein is associated with favorable clinicopathological features, it was not related to LRFS, MFS or OS. Multivariate analyses confirmed c-erbB-2 and p53 expressions as predictors of MFS independent of tumor size, histological grading and lymph node involvement. CONCLUSION: Expressions of p53 and c-erbB-2 are independent predictors of MFS in this Taiwanese population. Further research should be conducted on their application in the treatment and follow-up of patients.