P21 WAF1/CIP1 AND MDM-2 EXPRESSION IN BREAST-CARCINOMA PATIENTS AS RELATED TO PROGNOSIS/

p21/waf1/cip1 and mdm-2 are downstream effecters of p53, p21 plays a m ajor role in negatively regulating cell-cycle progression, while mdm-2 inhibits p53 effects, and its role has been implicated in oncogenesis . In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of p21, mdm-2 and p53 in human breast-carcinoma tissues. The aim was to determine w hether a correlation exists between the expression profiles of these m arkers and tumor differentiation, ER status and prognosis. We studied tumor specimens obtained from 106 patients and found a highly signific ant association among low histology grade, p53 over-expression, high m dm-2 expression and lack of p21 expression. Our studies also demonstra te that, in human breast cancer, low levels of p21 and higher mdm-2 le vels directly correlate with the onset of lymph-node metastases and sh ortened patient survival. Furthermore, the expression profiles of p21, mdm-2 and p53 were independently correlated with patient survival. (C ) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.