The Histopathology of Carcinoma Breast with Special Reference to p53 Marker

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the world. The high incidence of breast carcinoma in women has inspired a thorough investigation of potentially modifiable risk variables (clinical parameters, morphological type, and biochemical indicators) for prognosis, preventative tactics, and treatment options. One of the most important prognostic indicators for breast cancer is p53.

Aims and Objectives: The goal of this study was to use immunohistochemistry to assess the prevalence of p53 mutant protein in breast cancer, correlate the results with clinical and histological parameters, and establish its impact on axillary node metastasis.

Materials and Methods: A clinicopathological study of 50 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast was performed using immunohistochemistry to examine for p53 mutant protein expression.

Results: Percentage of p53 immunohistochemical positivity in this study was 22%, which is similar to other studies' reported statistics. In both the positive and negative cases of lymph node metastases, immunohistochemical data revealed an equivocal p53 status. In compared to p53 negative cases, the carcinomas with p53 positivity showed aggressive characteristics, such as greater size and higher grade. Patients with significant lymphocytic reactions to tumours, patients under 35 years of age, and those with tumours on the left side had a higher chance of receiving a positive p53 status. This study clearly shows that breast cancers with high p53 expression are generally aggressive tumours with a poor prognosis and a poor response to endocrine treatment and chemotherapy.