Evaluation of p53 in breast cancer and its correlation with various histological prognostic factors

Abstract

Carcinoma of the breast is the most common non-skin malignancy in women. The p53 gene is one of the most commonly mutated genes described in human neoplasia. Mutant p53 protein has greater stability and longer half time than the wild type protein that can be detected by Immunohistochemistry. This study was conducted to evaluate the expression of p53 in breast carcinoma and its correlation with various histological prognostic markers to determine its significance as a prognostic marker in breast cancer. The prospective study included 52 modified radical mastectomy specimens diagnosed as breast cancer in the Department of Pathology at SRMSIMS, Bareilly between November 2016 and April 2018. Routine H&E staining and immunohistochemical analysis for ER, PR, Her2/neu and P53 was carried out in all the cases. Majority of the cases belonged to the age group 30-39 years and the most common cancer type was infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Significant correlation of p53 was observed with ER and PR expression, however no significant correlation could be found with tumor type, grade, size, type of margin, necrosis, stromal response, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node status and Her2/neu status.P53 was found to have a significant inverse correlation with ER and PR expression only. The results do not resolve whether detectable p53 protein expression represents a random product of dedifferentiation or an important feature of the malignant phenotype, playing a key role in tumor behavior.