P53 PROTEIN OVEREXPRESSION ASSOCIATES WITH GROWTH-PATTERNS RATHER THAN WITH METASTASIZING IN OPERABLE BREAST-CANCER

We have analyzed p53 protein expression in 121 primary breast cancer b iopsies by immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody DO-1 and polyclonal serum CM-1. p53 protein overexpression has correlated in o ur study with mitotic activity (p = 0.001), nuclear atypia (p = 0.002) , less favorable histological type of tumor and in a lesser extent wit h tumor size. The inverse, but highly significant, correlation (p = 0. 007) has been observed with lymph node involvement. There was also a t rend for higher p53 positivity among DNA aneuploid tumors as compared with DNA diploid cases, but this was not significant. Our study sugges ts that p53, at least in some patients, may not be directly involved i n the process of metastatic progression in breast cancer. Preliminary data would suggest that the detection of p53 protein overexpression co uld be a useful additional prognostic parameter in breast cancer.