p53 quantitative immunocytochemical analysis in breast carcinomas

• Published in: Human pathology Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 159 - 166
• Main Authors: Charpin, Colette, DeVictor, Benedicte, Andrac, Lucile, Amabile, Joëlle, Bergeret, Denise, Lavaut, Marie-Noëlle, Allasia, Claude, Piana, Lucien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; breast carcinomas; Breast Neoplasms - chemistry; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cathepsin D - analysis; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; digitized microscopic images; Frozen Sections; Genes, erbB-2; Genes, p53; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; immunocytochemistry; Immunohistochemistry; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Nucleolus Organizer Region - ultrastructure; p53; Ploidies; Prognosis; Receptors, Estrogen - analysis; Receptors, Progesterone - analysis; Tumors; PR; MOD; IHC; AgNOR; immunocytochemistry; SSCP; breast carcinomas; ER; p53; digitized microscopic images; PB; PI; HD; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Pathology; Mammary gland diseases; Image analysis; Carcinoma; Prognosis; Malignant tumor; Mammary gland; Quantitative analysis; Tumor suppressor gene
• DOI: 10.1016/0046-8177(95)90032-2
• ISSN: 0046-8177

A series of 200 breast carcinomas was investigated on frozen sections using PAb 1801 p53 monoclonal antibody and streptavidin biotin peroxidase complex. Densitometric analysis of the immunoprecipitates was assessed by processing digitized microscopic images. p53 was observed in the nucleus of 48% of the tumors. Some tumors (14 of 91) tested in parallel on paraffin sections were negative, although positive on frozen sections. Image analysis showed that the surfaces positive with anti-p53 and the staining intensity were decreased ( P < .01) on paraffin sections. The p53 tumor expression was independent of patient age, tumor size, axillary lymph node status, HER-2/ neu and cathepsin D expression, and nuclear morphometric parameters. However, p53 correlated with high histological grade ( P < .01), lack of estrogen receptor (ER) ( P = .0015) and progesterone (PR) ( P = .0065) antigenic sites, pS2 detection ( P = .03), high Ki-67 immunoreactivity ( P = .018), large silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) nuclear surface ratio ( P < .02), and degree of hyperploidy ( P < .03), and was more often observed in the comedocarcinomas. The results suggest that p53 expression in breast carcinomas is not a totally independent prognostic indicator and that the clinical relevance and prognostic significance of p53 expression in breast carcinomas can be reliably assessed provided that the procedures are standardized, particularly with regard to the use of frozen sections and image analysis processing of the immunodetection.