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p53 gene mutation is involved in carcinogenesis of many human cancers. In breast cancer, it is known that p53 positivity is related to poor prognosis. The materials for this study were obtained from 44 cases of breast cancer regardless of histologic types. For t he evaluation of the significance as prognostic indicators, the immunohistochemical expression rates of p53 protein and cathepsin d were compared with other proven prognostic factors of breast cancer such as patient's age, tumor size, histologic grade, axillary lymph node metastasis, and ER/PR status. @ES The results were as follows: @EN 1. The expression rates of p53 protein and cathepsin D were 40.90% and 36.36%, respectively 2. Positive reaction of p53 protein was related to high histologic grade and older (more than 50 years old) age groups. (p<0.05) But no significant differences were recognized between p53 expression and tumor size, lymph node status and ER/PR state. 3. Positive cathepsin D expression was related to "good prognosis" groups such as less than 50 years old, less than 2cm in diameter, negative lymph node metastasis, ER/PR and negative p53 expression, but their differences were not statistically significant. 4. Cathepsin D expression rate was also high in high histologic grade like p53 expression, but the differences were not significant. In conclusion, positive expression of p53 protein is regarded as another poor prognostic factor because of good correlation with high histologic grade. Unfortunately present study can't afford the significance of cathepsin D expression as a prognostic indicator. Further studies on cathepsin D expression of both tumor cells and stromal cells should be performed for the evaluation on the usefulness as a prognostic indicator.
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