DNA ploidy and p53 expression correlate with survival and cell proliferative activity in male breast carcinoma

• Published in: Human pathology Vol. 27; no. 7; pp. 676 - 682
• Main Authors: Pich, Achille, Margaria, Elena, Chiusa, Luigi, Ponti, Renata, Geuna, Massimo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-07-1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms, Male - genetics; Breast Neoplasms, Male - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms, Male - pathology; Cell Division; DNA ploidy; DNA, Neoplasm - genetics; Flow Cytometry; Gene Expression; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; male breast carcinoma; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; p53 expression; Ploidies; Prognosis; proliferative activity; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Tumors; DNA ploidy; PCNA; DI; proliferative activity; FBC; male breast carcinoma; LSAB; prognosis; ER; MBC; AgNORs; p53 expression; ANOVA; PGR; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Cell proliferation; Flow cytometry; Ploidy; Carcinoma; Prognosis; Nucleolus organizer region; Male; Malignant tumor; Index (documentation); p53 gene; Pathology; Mammary gland diseases; C-Onc gene; Mammary gland; Protooncogene; Tumor suppressor gene
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1016/S0046-8177(96)90397-4

DNA flow cytometry and the monoclonal antibody D07 were applied in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 34 primary male breast carcinomas to verify whether DNA ploidy and
p53 expression were associated with survival and proliferative activity. They were compared with tumor clinicopathologic features, sex steroid hormone receptors and cell proliferative activity, assessed by the counts of the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), the monoclonal antibody PC10 against the proliferating cell nuclear antigen and the monoclonal antibody MIB-1. A significant correlation was found between survival and tumor ploidy (median survival, 77 months for diploid but only 38 months for aneuploid cases;
P = .03) and
p53 expression (median survival, 95 months for cases with
p53 scores ⩽ 14.06% versus 33 for cases with
p53 scores > 14.06%;
P = .0004; median survival, 99 months for
p53 negative vs 39 for positive cases;
P = .007). Tumor histological grade (
P = .006), AgNOR counts (
P = .0001), PC10 scores (
P = .002), and MIB-1 scores (
P = .001) were also associated with prognosis. In the multivariate analysis, only
p53 scores (
P = .001) or
p53 immunopositivity (
P = .003) and AgNOR counts (
P = .022) retained an independent prognostic significance. Aneuploid tumors had higher AgNOR counts (
P = .002), PC10 (
P = .007), MIB-1 (
P = .006), and
p53 scores (
P = .01) than diploid cases. A linear relationship was observed between
p53 scores and AgNOR counts (
r = .41;
P = .014), PC10 (
r = .46;
P = .005), and MIB-1 scores (
r = .44;
P = .011). These results indicate that DNA ploidy and
p53 expression are associated with survival and cell proliferative activity in male breast carcinoma. Quantitative parameters, such as DNA ploidy,
p53 scores, AgNOR counts, PC10, and MIB-1 scores substantially improve the prognostic significance of the traditional parameters in male breast carcinoma.