ecancermedicalscience

Research

p16 expression correlates with basal-like triple-negative breast carcinoma

14 May 2013
Amany A Abou-bakr, Hany I Eldweny

Background: Basal-like breast carcinoma (BLBC) has attracted considerable attention over the past few years. It has been suggested that tumours expressing basal markers have a more aggressive clinical behaviour. However, a molecular basis for this disease remains unclear, and it lacks currently used therapeutic targets. Therefore developing a novel treatment strategy is crucial for improving the prognosis. The aim of this study was to characterise the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of p16 in patients with BLBC compared with non-BLBC.

Materials and methods: Eighty-five cases of grade-3 invasive ductal carcinomas not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS) were analyzed. Immunohistochemical stains for oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), cytokeratin (CK) 5/6, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and p16 were performed. BLBC was defined as ER-, PR-, Her2- and CK5/6 , and/or EGFR .

Results: Twenty cases were categorised as BLBC versus 65 as non-basal. High mitotic count and presence of necrosis were associated with basal-like phenotype. Distant metastasis developed in 40% of cases of BLBC with frequent spread to brain and lung. p16 had significantly higher expression in the basal subgroup (80% versus 50.8%, P = 0.04). Patients with BLBCs were found to have a lower diseasefree survival (DFS) rate (60% versus 70.8%, P = 0.03).

Conclusion: BLBC typically demonstrates a unique profile. p16 is frequently expressed in breast cancers with basal-like phenotype; this suggests that p16 may play a role in the poor prognosis of this tumour, and it may be used in the development of a targeted therapy that will result in improved patient prognostication and outcome.

Related Articles

Pengkhun Nov, Yangfeng Zhang, Duanyu Wang, Syphanna Sou, Socheat Touch, Samnang Kouy, Virak Vicheth, Lilin Li, Xiang Liu, Changqian Wang, Peizan Ni, Qianzi Kou, Ying Li, Chongyang Zheng, Arzoo Prasai, Wen Fu, Wandan Li, Kunpeng Du, Jiqiang Li
Etienne Okobalemba Atenguena, Joseph Francis Nwatsock, Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko, Lionel Fossa Tabola, Kenn Chi Ndi, Jérôme Boombhi, Paul Ndom
Ademola Oluwatosin Oyekan, Omolara Aminat Fatiregun, Muhammad Habeebu, Ifeanyichukwu Augustine Onyeodi, Adebayo Deborah Adeoluwa
Gustavo Hipólito Diaz Infantes, Edgar Fermín Yan Quiroz, Luis Fernando Meza Montoya, José Richard Tenazoa Villalobos