P53 PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATES OF BREAST-CANCER - ANIMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL ASSAY FOR IDENTIFYING HIGH-GRADE DUCTAL CARCINOMAS

The expression of the p53 gene product was investigated immunocytochem ically in a series of 51 fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples of breas t carcinomas. Results were compared with those obtained by immunocytoc hemistry on paraffin embedded tissue sections of the corresponding sur gical specimens. Cytological samples showed a variable degree of p53 i mmunoreactivity in 14 tumors (27.6%), all of ductal type, while p53 im munoreactive tumor cells were present in tissue sections from 15 carci nomas (29.4%). The only discordant case was a signet-ring cell carcino ma. Abnormal p53 expression was significantly associated with high nuc lear grade in ductal carcinomas No association was seen with tumor siz e, lymph node status, and age of the patient. Detection of p53 altered expression in FNA samples of breast carcinoma may play a role in the assessment of tumoral grading and is predictive of p53 immunoreactivit y in histological specimens. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.