Expression of Topoisomerase II alpha and Ki-67 in Invasive Mammary Carcinoma and Their Clinicopathologic Implication

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Various prognostic indicators have been identified for mammary carcinomas, but the issue of their significance remains unsettled. The prognostic impact of c-erb B2, Ki-67 and topoisomerase II alpha expression was investigated in relation to prognostic factors for carcinomas of the breast and to the tumor cell growth fraction. METHODS: One hundred eighteen cases of invasive mammary carcinoma were investigated by immunohistochemical staining for c-erb B2, topoisomerase II alpha, and Ki-67. Clinicopathologic parameters were compared with the expression pattern and incidence of c-erb B2, topoisomerase II alpha and Ki- 67 in invasive mammary carcinoma. RESULTS: C-erb B2 showed significant correlation with topoisomerase II alpha (P<0.05), but others were not significant. Topoisomerase II alpha and Ki-67 index closely paralleled each other, indicating that both reflect the proliferate activity of tumor cells and were associated with high nuclear and histological grade, ER and PR expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that ki-67 and topoisomerase II alpha proteins might play a role in tumor progression of breast carcinoma. The Ki-67 and topoisomerase II alpha index may be proliferate factors of breast cancer. In addition, the increase expression of Ki-67 and topoisomerase II alpha and hormone receptor were closely correlated each other, and could be used as factors suggesting poor prognosis in breast carcinoma.