Prognostic significance of Bcl-2 in invasive mammary carcinomas: A comparative clinicopathologic study between "triple-negative" and non-"triple-negative" tumors

Kareem Tawfik, Bruce F. Kimler, Marilyn K. Davis, Fang Fan, Ossama Tawfik

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bcl-2 is a tumorigenic protein that is expressed in 25% to 50% of breast cancers. Although its expression has been widely accepted as a favorable prognostic marker, its protective mechanism of action remains unclear. "Triple-negative" tumors are an aggressive subgroup known to carry a poor prognosis. Studies documenting prognostic significance of Bcl-2 expression in triple-negative in comparison to non-triple-negative breast cancers are limited. Bcl-2 expression was correlated with tumor size, grade, histologic type, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node status, patients' overall survival, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Her-2, p53, and epidermal growth factor receptor in 124 triple-negative and 458 non-triple-negative tumors. There were significant differences between triple-negative and non-triple-negative tumors in their relationship to Bcl-2 expression (81% versus 29%, respectively) and tumor aggression. As previously reported, in non-triple-negative tumors, Bcl-2 positivity correlated with less aggressive tumors (94% of grade I tumors were Bcl-2+ versus 62% of grade III tumors, P <.011) and overall survival (P =.008). However, the opposite was true in patients with triple-negative tumors, where Bcl-2 positivity was associated with poorer survival (P =.64). In triple-negative tumors, Bcl-2 positivity was not associated with any of the aforementioned parameters except for a lower incidence of lymph node metastasis. Moreover, by Cox regression analysis of all variables, in patients with triple-negative tumors, lymphovascular invasion (P =.009) and Bcl-2 expression (P =.028) were predictors of poor survival. In conclusion, there are major clinicopathologic differences between breast cancer phenotypes. Our results establish the value of using Bcl-2 in prognostic stratification of patients and its potential therapeutic implications in selecting patients for treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-30
Number of pages8
JournalHuman Pathology
Volume43
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bcl-2
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Invasive breast carcinoma
  • Survival
  • Triple-negative breast carcinoma

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