Prognostic value of TP53 protein accumulation in human primary breast cancer: an analysis by luminometric immunoassay on 1491 tumor cytosols

Anticancer Res. 1997 Jul-Aug;17(4B):3003-6.

Abstract

The tumor suppressor gene TP53 is implicated in the regulation of normal cell growth and division, DNA repair and apoptosis. Mutations in this gene usually give rise to a conformationally altered protein which is stably expressed at high levels. We have studied TP53 protein accumulation in routinely prepared cytosols from 1491 human primary breast cancer specimens (median follow-up of patients alive, 66 months), using a quantitative luminometric immunoassay (LIA). The TP53-LIA values varied between 0 and 153.53 (median 0.20 ng/mg protein). Median TP53 levels were significantly higher in ER- and PgR-negative tumors. In Cox univariate regression analysis, when analyzed as a continuous variable, increasing TP53 levels were related with a poor relapse-free survival (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis for relapse-free survival, including age, menopausal status, tumor size, nodal status and steroid hormone receptor status, TP53 accumulation, when analyzed as a dichotomized variable, was an independent factor for predicting the rate of relapse with a relative relapse rate (95% confidence limits) of 1.39 (1.19-1.63). In conclusion, the LIA for the TP53 protein can easily be performed on cytosols routinely prepared for steroid hormone receptor analysis, it is a quantitative assay, and it may be useful in establishing the relation of TP53 accumulation and breast cancer prognosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Cytosol / chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / analysis*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / immunology

Substances

  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53