Immunohistochemical expression of proliferating
cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53-gene protein, and cathepsin D in
invasive breast carcinoma
Miliaras D, Kamas A, Kalekou-Greka H.
Pathology Department, “Aghios Pavlos” 1st General Hospital,
Thessaloniki, Greece
In this study we detected the proliferating cell nuclear antigen
(PCNA), p53-gene protein, and cathepsin D, in paraffin sections
from cases of invasive breast carcinoma, using monoclonal antibodies.
Our material included 50 female patients, 27-79 years old. The
percentage of PCNA-positive nuclei (mean: 43.01%±31.49), the expression
of cathespin D (separately evaluated in: [1] cancer cells, and
[2] stromal cells and macrophages), and the positivity to p53
protein, were analyzed in relation to patient’s age, tumor size,
histological grade and type, lymph node metastases, and estrogen
and progesterone receptors. Of these parameters, a statistically
significant correlation was found between high expression of
PCNA and high cathepsin index in stromal cells and macrophages
(p<0.001), as well as between p53 positivity and high cathepsin
index in stromal cells and macrophages (p<0.05). In addition,
high PCNA expression was related to p53 protein positivity (p<0,05).
The association between p53 protein positivity and increased
PCNA expression is consistent with the postulated biological action
of p53 gene, and its role in cancer. The correlation of increased
PCNA expression, as well as of p53 protein detection, with high
cathepsin index in stromal cells and macrophages, supports our
pevious and other author’s assumption, that increased cathepsin
expression in stromal cells and macrophages, probably indicates
a more aggressive behavior in these tumors.
Key words: PCNA, p53 protein, cathepsin D, breast carcinoma.
|
