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Prognostic value of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and c-erbB-2 compared with conventional histopathological factors in breast cancer

  • Original Paper
  • Clinical Oncology
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Abstract

Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein has been assessed in 471 women with breast cancer to evaluate their prognostic value as compared to conventional histopathological factors. In univariate analysis, high PCNA expression (≥20%) predicted a significantly worse survival in lymph-node-negative tumors (univariateP=0.031). However, the effect disappeared in multivariate analysis and the histological grade remained the only independent factor for this group. Despite its close correlation to histological grade (P<0.001), PCNA expression discriminated subsets with different survival within the heterogeneous group of moderately differentiated tumors (univariateP=0.073, multivariateP=0.075). PCNA expression was not found to be a significant prognostic factor in lymph-node-positive tumors, thus it was of limited value for breast cancer patients as a whole. c-erbB-2 protein overexpression was associated with a worse survival (univariateP=0.019, multivariateP=0.057) for the entire group of patients. The effect was mainly attributed to the significance of c-erbB-2 as an independent factor in lymph-node-positive (up to three nodes, multivariateP=0.04; four or more nodes: multivariateP=0.017) and large tumors (>2 cm: multivariateP=0.002). c-erbB-2 was without significance in lymph-node-negative patients. Though both factors might amplify the prognostic information for distinct patient subsets they do not achieve the strong prognostic value of conventional histopathological features in breast cancer.

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Author notes

  1. I. Schönborn

    Present address: Frauenklinik UKRV, Charlottenburg, Freie Universität Berlin, Pulsstrasse 4, D-14059, Berlin, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital “Rudolf Virchow” Charlottenburg, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

    I. Schönborn & W. Zschiesche

  2. “Max-Delbrück-Centrum” for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, Germany

    E. Spitzer

  3. Department of Gynecological Pathology, University Hospital “Rudolf Virchow” Charlottenburg, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

    C. Minguillon

  4. GSF Epidemiological Institute München, Germany

    M. Möhner

  5. Uhlandstrasse 68, Berlin-Niederschönhausen, Germany

    K. Ebeling

  6. Department of Pathology, The Gade Institute, Haukland Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    R. Grosse

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Schönborn, I., Zschiesche, W., Minguillon, C. et al. Prognostic value of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and c-erbB-2 compared with conventional histopathological factors in breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 121, 115–122 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01202223

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01202223

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