Determination of the prognostic value of cyclin D1 overexpression in breast cancer

Oncogene. 1995 Sep 7;11(5):885-91.

Abstract

Cyclin D1 plays a critical role in the timing of the initiation of DNA synthesis in the normal cell cycle of mammalian cells. Deregulated expression of this protein has been seen in a variety of tumours either as a result of gene amplification or chromosomal translocation, in breast cancer and B cell malignancies respectively. In order to determine the role this putative oncoprotein plays in breast cancer, we have applied a new monoclonal antibody, recently produced in our laboratory, in an immunohistochemical study of 93 primary breast carcinomas. We show that approximately 28% of the cases displayed enhanced expression of the cyclin D1 protein. Furthermore, either cyclin D1, cyclin D3, or both, were expressed in 69% of cases, suggesting that overexpression of any one member of this family may relieve cancer cells of their mitogenic stimulatory requirement. In addition, we show that those patients whose breast cancers co-express cyclin D1 with either epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) have a significantly poorer prognosis in comparison to those expressing cyclin D1 alone. Our observations indicate that, in a subset of breast cancers, aberrant cyclin D1 expression is a contributory factor to tumorigenesis and in association with EGFR or pRB expression, identify those tumours which may require more aggressive therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Cyclin D1
  • Cyclins / analysis
  • Cyclins / biosynthesis*
  • Cyclins / immunology
  • ErbB Receptors / analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Oncogene Proteins / analysis
  • Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Oncogene Proteins / immunology
  • Prognosis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / analysis
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cyclins
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Retinoblastoma Protein
  • Cyclin D1
  • ErbB Receptors