Determination of c-myc amplification and overexpression in breast cancer patients: evaluation of its prognostic value against c-erbB-2, cathepsin-D and clinicopathological characteristics using univariate and multivariate analysis
A. Scorilas et al., Determination of c-myc amplification and overexpression in breast cancer patients: evaluation of its prognostic value against c-erbB-2, cathepsin-D and clinicopathological characteristics using univariate and multivariate analysis, BR J CANC, 81(8), 1999, pp. 1385-1391
C-myc and c-erbB-2 amplification and/or overexpression as well as total cat
hepsin-D (GD) concentration have been reported to be associated with poor p
rognosis in breast cancer. The prognostic significance, however, remains so
mewhat controversial, partly because of discrepancies among the different m
ethodologies used. We determined the amplification and overexpression of c-
myc oncogene in 152 breast cancer patients and examined its prognostic valu
e in relation to c-erbB-2 amplification and overexpression, high concentrat
ion of CD (greater than or equal to 60 pmol mg(-1) protein) and standard cl
inicopathological prognostic factors of the disease, High CD concentration,
as well as c-myc amplification and overexpression, proved to be the best o
f the new variables examined for prediction of early relapse (ER; before 3
years). After multivariate analysis only CD remained significant, which sug
gests that the prognostic power of these variables is similar. Using univar
iate analysis we proved that c-myc amplification and overexpression were hi
ghly significant for disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.0016 and P = 0.0001
respectively) and overall survival (OS) (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0095 respect
ively), although by multivariate analysis c-myc overexpression was statisti
cally significant only for DFS (P = 0.0001) and c-myc amplification only fo
r OS (P = 0.0006). With regard to c-erbB-2, only its overexpression appeare
d to be significant for DFS and OS, although after multivariate analysis it
s prognostic power was weaker (P = 0.030 and P = 0.024 respectively). c-myc
amplification and overexpression exhibited a tendency for locoregional rec
urrence (LRR) (P = 0.0024 and P = 0.0075 respectively), however, their prog
nostic value was lower after multivariate analysis and only CD remained sig
nificant. (C) 1999 Cancer Research Campaign.