Cyclin E immunoexpression in breast ductal carcinoma: Pathologic correlations and prognostic implications

Abnormalities of the cell cycle are present in all neoplasms. Cyclin E, whi ch regulates the G1/S phase transition of the cell cycle, plays an importan t role in many different cancers. To further investigate the role of cyclin E in invasive breast ductal carcinomas in South African women, representat ive sections from 157 mastectomy and axillary clearance specimens were stai ned with the cyclin E antibody. The results were compared with known clinic opathologic prognostic factors, namely lymph node metastases, size, estroge n receptor status, and histologic grade. Positive (nuclear) cyclin E immuno staining strongly correlates with negative estrogen receptor status and hig h grade. These correlations may account for the observation that although c yclin E staining is associated with poor prognosis in univariate analysis, no prognostic significance remains after multivariate analysis. Copyright ( C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.