p53 protein expression in fine‐needle aspirates of breast cancer: An immunocytochemical assay for identifying high‐grade ductal carcinomas

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Abstract
The expression of the p53 gene product was investigated immunocytochemically in a series of 51 fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) samples of breast carcinomas. Results were compared with those obtained by immunocytochemistry on paraffin embedded tissue sections of the corresponding surgical specimens. Cytological samples showed a variable degree of p53 immunoreactivity in 14 tumors (27.6%), all of ductal type, while p53 immunoreactive tumor cells were present in tissue sections from 15 carcinomas (29.4%). The only discordant case was a signet‐ring cell carcinoma. Abnormal p53 expression was significantly associated with high nuclear grade in ductal carcinomas. No association was seen with tumor size, lymph node status, and age of the patient. Detection of p53 altered expression in FNA samples of breast carcinoma may play a role in the assessment of tumoral grading and is predictive of p53 immunoreactivity in histological specimens.