The expression of the proliferating antigen Ki67, PCNA and products of suppressor gene p53 in primary invasive ductal breast carcinoma.

Abstract

The classification of histological malignancy by Bloom and Richardson used in ductal invasive breast cancer seems to be not sufficient. In the same group of patients with the same clinical status as well as pathological malignancy the prognosis can be different and unpredictable. The aim of the study was to examine a consecutive series of primary ductal invasive tumours to find out: a) the expression of some biological cellular parameters as proliferating antigens Ki67 and PCNA and the products of the suppressor gene p53; b) the correlation between the levels of expression of those factors and classical prognostic factors, such as tumour diameter, status of axillary lymph nodes, status of steroids receptors, degree of histological differentiation. It seems that the estimation of proliferating antigens together with products of suppressor gene p53 might have greater prognostic value than the estimation of single factors.