The prognostic value of the proliferation marker Phosphohistone H3 (PPH3) in luminal, basal-like and triple negative phenotype invasive lymph node-negative breast cancer

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Skaland, Ivar^; | Janssen, Emiel A.M. | Gudlaugsson, Einar^; | Hui Ru Guo, Lydia | Baak, Jan P.A.^{; ; ;}

Affiliations: Department of Pathology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway | The Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway | Department of Oncology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China | Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. J.P.A. Baak, Department of Pathology, Stavanger University Hospital, Box 8100, 4068 Stavanger, Norway. Tel.: +47 51 519378; Fax: +47 51 519920; E-mail: jpabaak@yahoo.com.

Abstract: Purpose: Prognostic comparison of phosphohistone-H3 (PPH3) with Cytokeratin 5/6 and/or 14 positive (=basal-CK), triple (ER, PR, HER2)-negative (=TNP) and basal-like (=TNP and basal-CK positive) phenotype in invasive breast cancers. Patients and methods: Classical variables, PPH3, ER, PR, basal-CK and HER2 in 240 T1–2N0M0 patients under 71 years. Results: TNP and basal-like cancers had higher PPH3 expression than the other cancers (mean 48 versus 11, P<0.001). Fifteen percent of the patients in the whole group, but 32–38% of TNP and basal-like cancers recurred. With multivariate analysis, PPH3<13 (n=156) versus ≥13 (n=84=35% of all cases) was the strongest and only prognosticator (10-year survival 96% and 64%, P≤0.001, Hazard ratio=9.0). Conclusion: PPH3 is the strongest prognosticators in luminal, Triple negative and basal-like T1–2N0M0 invasive breast cancers.

Keywords: Breast cancer, prognosis, proliferation, Phosphohistone H3, basal-like

DOI: 10.3233/CLO-2009-0464

Journal: Analytical Cellular Pathology, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 261-271, 2009