C-erbB-2, EGF receptor, p53 and PCNA. The prognostic significance of recent tumor markers for lymph node negative breast cancer

In 216 breast cancer patients, the prognostic value of current biological factors (c-erbB-2, EGF-receptor, p53, PCNA-proliferative fraction) was compared with that of conventionally histomorphologic features (histologic type, histologic grade, tumour size, hormonal receptor status). After a 66(6 - 109) months' median follow-up survival was significantly correlated with histological grade (p = 0.014) and PCNA-proliferative activity (p = 0.015). The prognostic influence of oestrogen receptor (ER)- and progesteron receptor (PR-)status achieved borderline significance (ER/p = 0.07; PR/p = 0.05). Neither c-erbB-2, EGF-R, p53 nor any of the other factors showed any correlation to survival. In the multivariate analysis, histological grade was revealed as the only independent prognostic factor. The prognostic value of PCNA was second to histological grade and if grade was excluded from the analysis, PCNA-expression became the only independent factor. Thus, in individual cases the PCNA-proliferative fraction could help the clinician to decide on the therapy.