p27 expression correlates with short-term, but not with long-term prognosis in breast cancer

New prognostic and predictive factors are needed to adjust more appropriate therapy for individual patients after operation. p27 is a cell cycle regul ator, and a low tissue expression of this protein has been shown to correla te with poor prognosis in colorectal, lung, gastric, prostate, and breast c ancer. In this study on 197 breast cancer patients with a median follow-up of 17 years, the prognostic value of immunohistochemical p27 expression was evaluated. After 5 years of follow-up patients with a p27 expression in le ss than 50% of the tumor cells had a significantly lower survival rate than those with an expression above this level (p = 0.01). However, after longe r follow-up the difference decreased and was no longer significant at 7 yea rs (p = 0.1) or when the entire follow-up period was examined (p = 0.67). T ests for associations showed that a low p27 expression correlated with a hi gh histologic grade, a high S-phase fraction (SPF), an advanced TNM stage a nd negative hormone receptor status. In conclusion: Tissue expression of p2 7 is a significant predictor of 5-year, but not of 10- or 15-year breast ca ncer specific survival.