P53 protein expression and oestrogen and progesterone receptor status in invasive ductal breast carcinomas

The investigated in correlation to the grade of malignancy of primary breas t carcinomas. Our material constituted imprints from surgical biopsies of 7 5 invasive ductal breast cancer cases. The p53 protein expression was inves tigated immunocytologically using the monoclonal antibody p53 DO-7 (DAKO). A biochemical DCC method was applied for the detection of oestrogen and pro gesterone receptors for all tumours. Fifty-one percent of breast cancer cas es were p53 protein positive. A statistically significant association of p5 3 protein expression and high tumour grade was found (chi (2) = 23.72, d.f. = 2, P < 0.001). A statistically significant association was also found be tween oestrogen and progesterone receptor positive cases and the grade of m alignancy (P < 0.001). A negative association between p53 protein expressio n and oestrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) positivity was found. From our results it appears that it is possible to distinguish from grade II tumours two subgroups of cases, one with low malignancy potential and p5 3 (-), ER (+), PgR(+), and another subgroup with high malignancy potential and phenotype p53 (+), ER (-), PgR (-). The last subset of patients could a ctually benefit from adjuvant therapy.