Proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index and p53 expression predict outcome for breast cancer patients with four or more lymph node metastases

In general, extensive lymph node metastasis indicates poor prognosis in bre ast cancer. Nevertheless, some patients with this condition survive for a l ong time without recurrent disease. This study involved 112 breast cancer p atients with four or more lymph node metastases and without distant metasta sis who underwent surgery. p53 expression was associated with shorter overa ll and disease-free survival. High PCNA labeling index was associated with shorter overall disease-free survival. p53-negative and low-PCNA patients s urvived much longer than p53-positive and high-PCNA patients. This study sh owed that p53-negative or low-PCNA index patients have relatively good prog noses despite extensive lymph node metastasis.