P53 AND RB ALTERATIONS IN OPERABLE BREAST-CANCER

We analyzed association between p53 and/or Rb expression and clinicopa thologic variables or Ag-NOR counts, and then ascertained whether p53 and/or Rb expression would be useful for estimating prognosis in 81 br east cancer patients. Positive p53 expression was significantly associ ated with post-menopausal status, axillary lymph node metastases and A g-NOR counts, whereas low level Rb expression was significantly associ ated with tumor size. Moreover, the combination of p53 and Rb expressi on was significantly associated with Ag-NOR counts, although there was no significant association between p53 and Rb expression. In the univ ariate study, p53 expression as well as age and axillary lymph node me tastases were significantly associated with survival, whereas Rb expre ssion was not. In the multivariate study, p53 and/or Rb expression did not provide independent prognostic information, although axillary lym ph node metastases was an important factor affecting survival. Our fin dings suggest that p53 and/or Rb expression may reflect tumor prolifer ation of breast cancer, but the prognostic value of such assays is lim ited.