PROSPECTIVE-STUDY CORRELATING P120 ANTIGEN EXPRESSION WITH ESTABLISHED PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN BREAST-CANCER

P120 is a nucleolar proliferation antigen found in rapidly dividing ce lls and a variety of malignancies. Previous retrospective studies have demonstrated that, when detected in human breast cancer, P120 is asso ciated with a poorer prognosis. To determine whether P120 expression c orrelates with other prognostic factors in breast cancer, we prospecti vely analysed pathologic and clinical data from 61 patients. P120 was detected in 40 of the 61 specimens (66%). No significant correlation e xisted between P120 expression and either tumour size or hormone recep tors. A significant correlation was found between P120 expression and histological grade, degree of aneuploidy, S-phase fraction, degree of nodal involvement, and stage of disease. P120 is a biological marker i ndicative of tumour aggressiveness and may play an important role in d etermining which patients would most benefit from adjuvant therapy.