Immunohistochemical expression of p53, nm23-HI, Ki67 and DNA ploidy: Correlation with lymph node status and other clinical pathologic parameters in breast cancer

Background: The different clinical evolution of breast cancer with similar pathological characteristics prompted the authors to investigate the progno stic significance of different biological markers. Methods: Seventy-one pri mary breast carcinoma specimens obtained by mastectomy or quadrantectomy we re examined for the determination of the p53, nm23 and Ki67 expression, wit h immunohistochemistry, and the DNA content, with static cytometry. Results : p53 protein was expressed as nuclear staining in 58% of the cases and was associated with high levels of Ki67, non-diploid lesions and lymph-node st atus. Positive staining for nm23 was significantly correlated only with his tologic grading. A predictive role in disease recurrence was demonstrated o nly in patients with a high Ki67 nuclear expression. Conclusions: From thes e data, we may conclude that, besides all the other traditional clinical mo rphological parameters, a pannel of different biological markers, such as K i67 and the determination of p53 expression, may be utilized to further cha racterize breast cancer and its biological behavior.