Mutation detection by highly sensitive methods indicates that p53 gene mutations in breast cancer can have important prognostic value

J. S. Kovach, A. Hartmann, H. Blaszyk, J. Cunningham, D. Schaid, S. S. Sommer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

131 Scopus citations

Abstract

Human cancer cells with a mutated p53 tumor-suppressor gent have a selective growth advantage and may exhibit resistance to ionizing radiation and certain chemotherapeutic agents. To examine the prognostic value of mutations in the p53 gene, a cohort of 90 Midwestern Caucasian breast cancer patients were analyzed with methodology that detects virtually 100% of all mutations. The presence of a p53 gene mutation was by far the single most predictive indicator for recurrence and death (relative risks of 4.7 and 23.2, respectively). Direct detection of p53 mutations had substantially greater prognostic value than immunohistochemical detection of p53 overexpression. Analysis of p53 gene mutations may permit identification of a subset of breast cancer patients who, despite lack of conventional indicators of poor prognosis, are at high risk of early recurrence and death.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1093-1096
Number of pages4
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume93
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 6 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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