Biological significance of allele specific loss of the p53 gene in breast carcinomas.

The p53 tumor suppressor gene has a central role in the defense against cancer, including breast cancer, and contains a polymorphic variant (Arg/Pro) at codon 72 that has been shown to have different biological properties regarding apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Earlier studies have shown allele specific loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at this particular site and we aimed to investigate its biological relevance in codon 72 heterozygous breast cancer patients (i.e.

In situ levels of oestrogen producing enzymes and its prognostic significance in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Background: The risk of developing breast cancer is strongly correlated with the overall exposure to oestrogen and most tumours are more or less dependent on oestrogen for their growth. A great majority of breast cancers occur after menopause when the ovaries have ceased to be functional, yet breast tumours in postmenopausal women maintain high intratumoural oestrogen concentrations, primarily through enzymatic conversion of androgenic precursors.

Patients: with a hormone dependent tumour generally receive the anti-oestrogen tamoxifen that mediate its anti-tumour effect by competing with oestrogen for binding to the oestrogen-receptor (ER).