Nm23 Protein Expression in Ductal In Situ and Invasive Human Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

The precise role of the nm23 gene remains to be established, but our simplified immunohistochemical rating system shows an association between Nm23 protein expression and the two most significant prognostic factors relating to histologic grade and stage. Nm23 negativity distinguished comedo ductal carcinoma in situ from the other histological types, a finding consistent with the fact that comedo histology is known to have a higher likelihood of becoming invasive and of having higher cell proliferation rates and higher expression of growth factor (c-erb B2) receptor.