EXPRESSION OF P53 AND BCL-2 IN CORRELATION TO CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS, HORMONE-RECEPTOR STATUS AND DNA-PLOIDY IN BREAST CANCERS

The expression of p53 and bcl-2 was immunohistochemically investigated in 61 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded invasive breast carcinomas. T he study was aimed to elucidate the relationship between both markers and the correlation of p53 and bcl-2, respectively, to clinicopatholog ical variables, to hormone receptor status and to DNA-ploidy. Twenty t umors showed a positive reaction with the monoclonal antibody DO-1 aga inst p53 protein. Its immunohistochemical demonstration was significan tly correlated with a tumor size larger than 2 cm, a low estrogen rece ptor status and DNA-aneuploidy. Bcl-2 was demonstrated in 51 breast ca ncers. Bcl-2 was preferably seen in low grade and hormone receptor pos itive tumors. We found a negative correlation between the immunoreacti ve scores of p53 and bcl-2, but in 17 carcinomas a coexpression of bot h proteins was seen. Cases with this coexpression did not differ signi ficantly from the other tumors in clinicopathological parameters. In e ight of these cases more than 10% of the cells were found to be positi ve for both markers. in four cases we could show many cells to exhibit both markers as it was assessed by an immunofluorescence double label ing technique.