Correlation of Bcl-2 and p53 Expression in Primary Breast Tumors and Corresponding Metastatic Lymph Nodes

BACKGROUND. The p53 tumor suppressor gene product participated in G1 cell cycle arrest or cell death. Loss of function was associated with poor outcome in patients with breast carcinoma. bcl-2 prevented apoptosis induced by c-myc or growth factor deprivation. High bcl-2 expression in breast tumor tissue specimens appears to be associated with favorable prognostic factors. However, Bcl-2 and p53 expression in primary tumor tissue specimens versus metastatic lymph node specimens in breast carcinoma has not been studied. The current study compared Bcl-2 and p53 expression in primary breast carcinoma tissue specimens with Bcl-2 and p53 expression in axillary lymph node specimens. METHODS. Primary breast tumor and corresponding axillary metastatic lymph node tissue specimens were obtained from 60 patients with breast carcinoma. They were evaluated for the presence of Bcl-2 and p53 expression by immunohistochemistry using standard methods. RESULTS. Bcl-2 expression in primary tumor tissue specimens (53%) was correlated with Bcl-2 expression in metastatic lymph node specimens (50%; Pearson correlation = 0.656). p53 expression in primary tumor specimens (72%) was correlated with p53 expression in metastatic lymph node specimens (60%; Pearson correlation = 0.800). A significant inverse correlation also was found between p53 and Bcl-2 expression in primary breast tumor tissue specimens (Pearson correlation = -0.310). CONCLUSIONS. The current study suggested that Bcl-2 and p53 expression in axillary metastatic lymph node specimens is correlated with Bcl-2 and p53 expression in the primary tumor tissue specimens. The prognostic and predictive value of Bcl-2 and p53 expression in axillary lymph node metastasis in patients with breast carcinoma needs to be further evaluated in larger trials with longer follow-up.