Prognostic significance of p16INK4a/p53 in Tunisian patients with breast carcinoma

p16 overexpression and 9p21 deletion are linked to unfavorable tumor phenotype in breast cancer

“…Most of these associations are in line with earlier IHC studies examining 10, 60, 82 and 314 breast tumors that had already suggested associations between p16 overexpression and adverse features of breast cancer such as high grade [7–10], nodal stage [10] and poor patient prognosis [9, 10]. That p16 expression lacked prognostic relevance in the subset of triple negative cancers underscores the particularly poor prognosis of these cancers [24].…”

“…Under the selected staining conditions, positive p16 immunostaining was found in about 50% of breast cancers, including more than 10% of cancers with high intensity p16 staining. Earlier immunohistochemistry studies using TMAs and large sections examining 20–119 breast cancers reported frequencies of p16 positivity ranging from 56% to 89% (TMA) and 21% to 51% (large sections) [8, 9, 19–23]. Such discrepancies are common if a protein is analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a large number of studies.…”

“…p16 plays a pivotal role in various tumor types including cancers of colon, skin, and gallbladder (reviewed in [6]). In breast cancer, studies on 10–314 patients suggested a role of p16 overexpression in tumor progression [7–10], metastasis [10], and clinical outcome [9, 10]. It is, thus, remarkable that deletion of the chromosomal region 9p21, potentially leading to reduced p16 expression, belongs to the most frequent deletions in breast cancers occurring in 11% to 65% [11–17].…”

What common biomarkers characterize a triple-negative profile in breast cancer?

“…Several studies suggesting that p16INK4a overexpression was an indicator of poor prognosis in primary breast cancer [97,98]. Recently, Karray-Chouayekh et al [98] show that overexpression of p16INK4a is associated with aggressive behavior in primary breast carcinoma.…”

“…Recently, Karray-Chouayekh et al [98] show that overexpression of p16INK4a is associated with aggressive behavior in primary breast carcinoma. Also, a notably positive association between triplenegative tumors and positive immunostaining of p16INK4 was reported.…”