Aim: To explore the potential prognostic value of cyclin D1 in invasive breast cancer and its correlation with basic histopathological parameters, hormonal status (estrogen [ER] and progesterone receptor [PR]), and bcl-2.
Methods: Medical records of 48 patients, diagnosed in 1998, from the Central Database of the Institute of Oncology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, were analyzed. The mean follow-up was 61 months (range: 4-103 months). Routine histopathological evaluation was performed for 48 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples. For immunohistochemical staining, we used monoclonal antibodies for ER, PR, bcl-2, and cyclin D1.
Results: Cyclin D1 expression inversely correlated with tumor grade (P=0.010) and tumor size (P=0.023), whereas significant positive association was found with ER (P=0.001) and bcl-2 (P=0.001) expression. Patients with higher cyclin D1 expression had longer both overall survival (P=0.014) and relapse-free survival (P=0.037). Cox regression analysis for overall survival (OS) showed that lymph node status, ER expression, therapy, and cyclin D1 expression were independent prognostic factors. (P range from 0.003 to 0.04).
Conclusion: Expression of cyclin D1 is associated with better disease outcome in breast cancer.