engleski

Expression of c-myc, erbB-2, p53 and nm23-H1 gene product in benign and malignant breast lesions: coexpression and correlation with clinocopathologic parameters

Aims: The aims of this study were to assess the expression of protein products of c-myc, erbB-2, p53 and nm23-H1 gene in benign and malignant breast lesions, to estimate their possible coexpression and to correlate the results of immunohistochemical analysis with various clinicopathologic parameters. Methods: We used the immunohistochemical detection of corresponding protein. Results: Expression of protein c-myc was high in both malignant and benign lesions (95% and 100%). Expression of erbB-2 and mutated p53 proteins in malignant lesions was 27% and 34%. These proteins were present in benign lesions as well: 7, 8% of benign lesions were positive for erbB-2 protein and 19, 6% for p53 protein. The expression of nm23-H1 protein was similar in benign and malignant lesions: 47% and 54%. Coexpression of nm23-H1 and mutated p53 protein was found in fourteen carcinomas (16, 5%). We found a tendency of negative correlation between the expression of these two proteins. We also found negative correlation between the size of breast carcinoma and the expression of nm23-H1, a higher proportion of nm23-H1 positive carcinomas in the group of erbB-2-negative, p53-negative carcinomas and the higher proportion of nm23-H1 positive carcinomas in the group of malignant lesions with negative axillary lymph nodes. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that in women with breast cancer the expression of nm23-H1 gene may contribute to more favorable phenotype. We also showed that some changes found in malignant tumors such as the presence of mutated p53 protein and the expression of erbB-2 protein may be found in benign lesions as well.

breast lesions; c-myc; erbB-2; p53; nm23-H1

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