INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL MARKERS (PCNA, P53, CATHEPSINA-D, HER-2 NEU, EGFR) ON RECURRENCE IN LYMPH-NODE NEGATIVE BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS/

Prognosis in lymph-node negative tumor patients is a controversial top ic. To date, its determination is based on clinical, histopathological and biochemical indicators. Recently, histochemical methods are givin g a very interesting information about cell kinetic and tumoral hetero genous behaviour. This study was established to elucidate the prognost ic value on recurrence of these factors in a subset of patients with n ode negative tumors. Seventy node-negative patients were retrospective ly studied. PCNA, p53, Cathepsina D, neu and EGFR expression was asses sed using immunostaining methods. Assessment of immunostaining was per formed by the Hardware CAS(R) 200 Image analysis system. Its associati on to other clinical, histological and hormonal factors was studied. D isease-free survival and overall survival was obtained. In univariate analysis, PCNA, p53, Cathepsina D expression show a high statistical s ignificance unlikely neu and EGFR expression. In multivariate analysis PCNA expression, PR status and histological grade were found to be th e main independent predictive factors for recurrence. Immunohistochemi cal factors did not show correlation with overall survival. In conclus ion, only PCNA-expression showed an important prognostic value.