IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXPRESSION OF THE MUCIN-TYPE GLYCOPROTEIN A-80 AND PROGNOSIS IN HUMAN BREAST-CANCER

Immunohistochemical expression of the tumour associated mucin-type gly coprotein A-80 was investigated in a series of 173 breast cancer patie nts with a clinical follow-up between 13 and 19 years. A routine immun operoxidase technique was used in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded su rgical tumour specimens. One hundred and fifty of 173 tumours (87%) im munostained with MAb A-80. The degree of A-80 immunoreactivity was rel ated to the tumour grade but not to lymph node status, tumour size, or nuclear DNA distribution pattern. In univariate analysis the degree o f A-80 expression was found to be of significant prognostic value both in node negative and in node positive breast cancer patients (P = 0.0 3). Patients with non-A-80 immunoreactive tumours had significant long er distant metastases-free survival times and fewer relapses than wome n with carcinomas composed of A-80 immunoreactive tumour cells. This p rognostic value was reduced in a multivariate analysis, including lymp h node status, tumour size, and nuclear DNA distribution pattern, but retained borderline significance (P = 0.08). In conclusion, the findin gs of this study indicate that expression of the mucin-type glycoprote in A-80 as determined by immunohistochemistry seems to be related to c linical outcome in breast cancer patients.