Clinical importance of microvessel density, p53 and bcl-2 protein expression in breast cancer

To determine the absolute and relative value of microvessel density (MVD). p53 and bcl-2 protein expression, conventional prognosticators in predicting relapse-free survival rate (RFS) and overall survival rate (OS) in breast cancer patients We monitored 47 consecutive breast cancer patients with stage I, II, or III disease ( median follow-up period: 104 months). Univariate analyses showed that MVD (P=0.064) and p53 protein (P=0.058) were borderline significant prognosticators of RFS. Nodal status(n) (P=0.003) and lymphatic invasion (ly) (P=0.022) were significantly associated with RFS. n (P=0.03) and ly (P=0.037) were significantly related with OS. Multivariate analysis showed that n was only independent predictor for RFS. MVD, p53 and bcl-2 expression did not show an independent power to predict OS. However, it is possible that MV D and p53 expression may be a second predictor to RFS.