Expression of p27 protein in stage I breast cancer and relationship with clinico-pathologic parameters

OBJECTIVE:To study the expression of p27 protein and its significance in stage Ⅰ breast cancer.METHODS:With anti-p27 monoclonol antibody,by immunohistochemical methods,tissues from 112 paraffin-embedding specimens of stage Ⅰ breast cancer were tested for p27 protein expression levels and the relationship betwen it and clinicopathological characteristics was investigated.RESULTS:1)The expression rate of p27 protein in stage Ⅰ breast cancer was 60.71%(68/112).2)p27 protein expression had no significant relations with age(P=0.054)and tumor size(P=0.231).3)p27 protein expression was significantly associated with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis(P=0.032)and histologic grade(P=0.046).4)p27 protein expression had a positive trend with 5-,10-,15-years free-disease survival rate,which had no significant difference,P0.05.CONCLUSION:The expression of p27 protein in Ⅰ stage breast cancer is significantly associated with clinicopathological characteristics and may serve as a valuable prognostic parameter of breast cancer,which needs to be investigated further.