Tissue microarray analysis of FAS, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, ER, PgR, Hsp60, p53 and Her2-neu in breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to detect immunohistochemical markers in breast carcinoma by means of tissue microarray analysis (TMA) and to associate their expressions with clinicopathological features and prognosis. Fatty acid synthase, bcl-2, bcl-x, p53, estrogen and progesterone receptors, heat shock protein 60 and Her2-neu (c-erbB-2) were evaluated in a group of 149 breast carcinoma patients with a 5-year follow-up period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TMA blocks were made by using duplicate 0.6-mm diameter tissue cores from each paraffin block. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that tumor stage (p=0.003) and node status (p=0.001) were the only two prognostic markers of disease-free survival. Moreover, FAS and bcl-x showed an independent effect on recurrence (p=0.005). The node status was the only marker of overall survival (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data confirmed recent reports associating the stage of disease, FAS and Bcl-x expressions with recurrence and outcome. These data demonstrated that TMA is an effective substitute for conventional histochemical-immunohistochemical techniques.