Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to examine the survivin expression pattern in benign lesions, atypical ductal hyperplasias (ADH), ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) and in invasive carcinomas of the breast and to evaluate the effect of expression of this marker on the malignant progression of breast cancers. In addition, the relationship between the expression of the marker and the clinicopathological characteristics for invasive carcinomas were investigated.
METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining using a tissue microarray method for survivin was performed for 103 benign lesions, 30 ADHs, 26 DCISs and 116 invasive carcinomas.
RESULTS
The expression of cytoplasmic survivin was higher for invasive carcinomas than for ADHs and DCISs (p<0.05). For breast invasive carcinomas, expression of cytoplasmic survivin significantly correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis and stage (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that overexpression of cytoplasmic survivin may be involved in the development of the late stage of breast malignancy, especially invasiveness. In breast invasive carcinomas, expression of survivin may be a useful indicator for the evaluation of patient prognosis.

• Keywords: Breast;Survivin;Immunohistochemistry;