| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2007 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 4 | Page : 207-210 |
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Estimation of BCL-2 protein in carcinoma of the breast and its clinical correlation in locally advanced breast cancer
Himanshu Aggarwal, Parvinder S Lubana, DK Jain, RK Mathur
Department of Surgery, M.G.M. Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore - 452 001, India
Correspondence Address:
Himanshu Aggarwal
Department of Surgery, M.G.M. Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore - 452 001
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0973-1482.38995
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The change in expression of apoptotic markers (Bcl-2 and Bax proteins) brought about by various chemotherapeutic regimens is being used for its predictive value for assessing response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in locally advanced breast carcinoma (LABC).
Aims: (1) Estimation of Bcl 2 expression in LABC, (2) Any change in Bcl 2 expression following chemotherapy in LABC, (3) Any relation of Bcl 2 estimation to changes in size of tumor, nodal status, age, and menopausal status.
Settings and Design: This was a prospective study of 120 cases of LABC.
Materials and Methods: All cases were subjected to biopsy and the tissue was evaluated immunohistochemically for apoptotic marker Bcl-2 family protein. Three cycles of NACT were given at three-weekly intervals. Modified radical mastectomy was performed and the specimens were re-evaluated for any change in the Bcl-2 family protein. The clinical response and immunohistochemical response were correlated and compared.
Statistical Analysis: Coefficient of correlation was calculated by Pearson correlation coefficient (P-value).
Results: Clinical response, as measured by reduction in the tumor size, was observed in 81 (67.5%) patients while immunohistochemical response was observed in 67 (55.8%) patients. Correlation between immunohistochemical and clinical response was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.02). Nodal response was seen in 72 (60%) patients. There were no patients in the N o group; 22 (53.7%) of the N 1 patients were down-staged to N o , while 19 (46.3%) remained N 1 . In patients with N 2 disease, 11 (13.9%) were down-staged to N o status, 39 (49.4%) were down-staged to N 1 status, and 29 (36.7%) did not show any response. Immunohistochemical response was observed in 67 (55.8%) patients. Correlation between immunohistochemical and nodal responses was also found to be statistically significant (P = 0.03).
Conclusions: This significant positive correlation between clinical and immunohistochemical responses highlights the importance of apoptotic marker Bcl-2 family protein in predicting the response of LABC to NACT. |
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