CORRELATION BETWEEN EXPRESSION OF BCL-2, BAX & P53 AND HISTOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN BREAST CANCER OF EGYPTIAN PATIENTS

Hoda A. Mahran*, Ahmed M. Fahmy, Mahmoud Moawad and Eman H. Kandil

ABSTRACT

Egypt, breast cancer represents approximately 33% of all female cancers and 29% of cancer cases treated at the National Cancer Institute. The present work aimed to determine the differences between normal breast tissue, fibroadenoma and invasive ductal carcinoma tissues using histopathological, histochemical (PAS reaction was used for demonstration of polysaccharides and mercury bromophenol blue method for demonstration of total proteins), immunohistochemical studies (using antibodies directed against ER, PR, p53, Bax and Bcl-2) as well as DNA fragmentation assay. Sixty female breast specimens were obtained from Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University from 2012 to 2014. A noticeable difference in the content of polysaccharides and proteins in the three studied groups (normal, fibroadenoma and invasive ductal carcinoma) was detected. Tumor specimens showed lowest polysaccharides and highest proteins content. Out of 40 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) cases, Bcl-2 expressed in 24 cases (60%) and Bax expressed in 16 cases (40%). Also, 30% and 40% of the IDC specimens showed positive ER and PR expression; respectively. Total optical density in IDC specimens was statistically increased due to fragmentation of DNA. It was concluded that normal breast tissues contained the highest polysaccharides contents, while fibroadenoma specimens showed moderate content and the lowest content was in IDC specimens. The total proteins in the invasive ductal carcinoma specimens showed significant increase compared with fibroadenoma and normal specimens. There was significant increase in Bcl-2, Bax and p53 expression in invasive ductal carcinoma. There was a marked decrease in ER expression in both fibroadenoma and invasive ductal carcinoma than normal breast. There was high DNA fragmentation in invasive ductal carcinoma.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Histology, Histochemistry, Immunohistochemistry, Bcl-2, Bax, p53, ER, PR and DNA fragmentation.