ANALYSIS OF NM23-H1 EXPRESSION IN BREAST-CANCER - CORRELATION WITH P53 EXPRESSION AND CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS

Metastasis is the most frequent cause of death in patients with breast cancer. The nm23-H1 and p53 genes have been involved in the developme nt of breast cancer metastasis. We have analyzed the correlation betwe en the expression of nm23 protein and several established clinicopatho logic factors. Our results show that the antimetastatic role of nm23-H 1 is not related to the cell proliferative status or tumor grade and t hat it is not associated with the expression of p53. We also demonstra te a strong inverse relationship between the expression of nm23-H1 pro tein, lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion. These data support the antimetastatic role of the nm23-H1 gene and suggest that nm23-H1 a nd p53 genes may be involved in different steps of the metastatic proc ess.