Ansari HA, Mehdi G, Maheshwari V, Siddiqui SA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the apoptotic index (AI) in benign and malignant tumours of the breast and observe its association with different grades of carcinoma breast and other clinicopathologic parameters, in order to identify the role of apoptosis as a cell proliferation marker and potential prognostic factor. AI was assessed on aspiration cytology smears from 112 cases of breast tumours out of which histological sections were obtained from 60 cases for comparative analysis. Association was determined with nature of lesion, tumour size, axillary lymph node status and histologic grade. AI was found to be significantly higher in malignant lesions (0.73% ± 0.5) as compared to benign breast tumours (0.16% ± 0.12). There was no direct association of AI with histological grade, tumour size or lymph node status. Comparable values of mean AI in benign and malignant tumours were obtained by both cytologic and histologic analysis.

Key words : apoptosis, breast tumours, cell proliferation, prognostic marker