Expressions of DAPK, p53 and Bcl-2 proteins in breast carcinoma tissues and their correlation

Objective: To investigate the expressions of p53, Bcl-2 and DAPK in breast carcinoma and breast hyperplasia tissues and explore their clinical significance. Methods: The expressions of DAPK, p53 and Bcl-2 were tested in 42 cases of breast hyperplasia and 68 cases of invasive breast carcinoma by SP immunohistochemical methods. The significance of these markers was evaluated by analyzing the correlation between these markers and the pathologically biological features of breast cancer. Results: p53 expression was negative in breast hyperplasia tissue while was positive in 51.5% (35/68) of cancer tissue. There was a significant positive correlation between the expression of p53 and the histological grade, pathological subtype, lymph-node metastasis. The expression of Bcl-2 in breast tissues was 69.1% (47/68) which was significantly higher than that in hyperplasia tissue and a positive correlation was found between the expression of Bcl-2 and tumor diameter and lymph node metastasis. The expression of DAPK in breast carcinoma tissues was 42.6% (29/68) which was significantly lower than that in the hyperplasia tissues and a negative correlation was found between its expression and the histological grade, pathological subtype, lymph-node metastasis, p53 and Bcl-2. Conclusions: The expressions of DAPK, p53 and Bcl-2 can be used as important biological markers for breast cancer. DAPK may play an important role in the development of breast cancer. Down-regulation of the expressions of Bcl-2 and mutation p53 is probably one of its molecular mechanisms.