Clusterin overexpression and relapse-free survival in breast cancer

Abstract

Background: The prognostic significance of the antiapoptotic protein secretory clusterin overexpression in breast cancer is unclear. Patients and Methods: Secretory clusterin expression was explained in three hundred and fifty-two patients with breast cancer by immunohistochemistry. Clusterin overexpression was tested for correlation with overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Results: The overall frequency of clusterin overexpression was 52% (178 out of 342) in breast cancer; 44% for in situ carcinomas and 53% for invasive cancer. Among fifty-six patients with tumor recurrence, clusterin overexpression was found in 74% (14 out of 19) in breast cancer <T2 stage and 51% (19 out of 37) in ≥T2 stage breast cancer. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that clusterin overexpression was a prognostic factor for RFS in breast cancer <T2 stage (mean RFS, 79.8 vs. 73.5 months, p=0.044). Conclusion: Our results suggest that clusterin overexpression might be a predictive factor for recurrence in <T2 stage breast cancer.