Expression of the lung resistance protein (LRP) in primary breast cancer

Background: To determine the clinical significance of the lung resistance p rotein (LRP) in breast cancer, we have studied its expression in primary br east carcinomas (n = 99) and assessed the association of this expression wi th clinical parameters of the patients. Materials and Methods: LRP expressi on was immunohistochemically determined by means of the monoclonal antibody LRP-56 on frozen tumor sections. Results: LRP expression was negative in 1 2%, low in 20%, intermediate in 47% and high in 21% of the carcinomas. LRP expression was independent of age of the patients, histology, tumor grade, Estrogen receptor as well as progesterone receptor status, tumor sire and l ymph node involvement. Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that both overall sur vival and disease-free survival were independent of the degree of LRP expre ssion. Conclusions: LRP is frequently expressed in breast carcinomas, but i s neither associated with known prognostic factors, nor a prognostic factor by itself.