J Korean Cancer Assoc.  1997 Apr;29(2):242-249.

Expression of DNA Topoisomerase II and P-Glycoprotein in Breast Cancer

• Park HR
• Jung EH
• Sohn JH
• Park YE

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine whether the expression of DNA topoisomerase II and P-glycoprotein are of prognostic value.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We evaluated the expression of DNA topoisomerase II and P-glycoprotein immunohistochemically in a retrospective study of samples from 44 patients with breast cancer. Thirty two among 44 patients (72.7%) received chemotherapeutic treatments (CMF or FAC protocol) and/or tamoxifen postoperatively.
RESULTS
P-glycoprotein was detected in the 27 samples of 44 patients (61.3%). The expression of P-glycoprotein was increased in the patients older than 50 years, with distant metastases, and with death on follow-up. DNA topoisomerase II was detected in the 34 samples of 44 patients (77.2%). The expression of topoisomerase II was increased in the patients younger than 50 years, with recurrent tumor, with distant metastases, and with death on follow-up. The expression of P-glycoprotein and topoisomerase II was not correlated with other clinico-pathological factors including the size of primary tumor, involvement of lymph node, histologic grade, and clinical stage. The correlation between expression of P-glycoprotein and topoisomerase II was not significant.
CONCLUSION
The immunohistochemical evaluation of P-glycoprotein and topoisomerase II before treatment in breast cancer has little clinical prognostic value.

Keyword

DNA topoisomerase II; P-glycoprotein; Breast cancer; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
DNA Topoisomerases, Type I*
DNA Topoisomerases, Type II*
DNA*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
P-Glycoprotein*
Retrospective Studies
Tamoxifen
DNA
DNA Topoisomerases, Type I
DNA Topoisomerases, Type II
P-Glycoprotein
Tamoxifen