Overexpression of p53 is correlated with poor outcome in premenopausal women with breast cancer treated with tamoxifen after chemotherapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in outcomes based on p53 overexpression of patients with breast cancer who received adjuvant therapy following local treatment for invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified. We analyzed data from 4,683 patients with cancer enrolled in two institutions between 1997 and 2006. We analyzed the correlation between p53 overexpression and relapse, response to adjuvant therapy, breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with primary breast cancer. Overexpression of p53 was noted in 1,091 patients (23.3%). A significant correlation existed between p53 overexpression and poor prognostic factors, an increased frequency of regional recurrence, visceral metastasis, and worse BCSS and RFS. Based upon subgroup analyses, combined age (<35, 35–50, and >50 years) and adjuvant therapy (hormone therapy only, chemotherapy only, and hormone therapy following chemotherapy), the greatest reduction of survival based on p53 overexpression was noted in patients 35–50 years of age who received hormone therapy following chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that p53 overexpression is an independent prognostic factor in patients treated with hormone therapy and chemotherapy (relative risk for BCSS, 2.003; 95% CI, 1.105–3.631; P = 0.022). The p53-overexpressing patients with breast cancer between 35 and 50 years of age who received tamoxifen following chemotherapy had the greatest adverse effect on outcome. Overexpression of p53 is significantly associated with tamoxifen resistance in premenopausal women with breast cancer.