[Correlations of HER-2, PCNA, Bcl-2, and Bax expression to prognosis of breast cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Identifying breast cancer patients with high risk and treating them with relevant treatments is a key to improve their survival. This study was to investigate the correlations of human epidermal receptor-2 (HER-2), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2, and Bax expression to the prognosis of breast cancer.

METHODS

The expression of HER-2, PCNA, Bcl-2, and Bax in 50 specimens of breast cancer was detected by immunohistochemistry with EnVision staining. Their correlations to the survival time of the patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

The positive rates of HER-2, PCNA, Bcl-2, and Bax in breast cancer tissues were 44.0%, 82.0%, 48.0% and 54.0%, respectively. The median survival for the patients was 62 months, and the 5-year overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate were 82.0% and 38.0%, respectively. Univariate survival analysis suggested that HER-2 and Bax had significant influence on tumor recurrence (P< 0.001). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that the expression of HER-2 and Bax were correlated to regional recurrence and distant metastasis (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), and Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were independent predictors of overall survival (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HER-2 and Bax are related to poor prognosis of breast cancer, while Bcl-2 is related to good prognosis.