Abstract
BACKGROUND: The significance of the measurement of anti-p53 antibodies in serum remains undisclosed. The aim of this study was to assess anti-p53 antibodies in the serum of patients with breast cancer, and correlate these results with various clinicopathologic parameters. METHODS: We analyzed serum anti-p53 antibody levels in 124 patients with breast cancers and 7 patients with benign disease between April 2012 and March 2013, as well as levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen (CA) 15-3. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 124 patients with breast cancer had an increased concentration of anti-p53 antibodies. By distribution of clinical stage, in stage 0-II the positive ratio of anti-p53 antibodies was significantly higher than that of CEA (p=0.03) and CA15-3 (p=0.01). There was a significant correlation between anti-p53 antibodies and family history (p=0.03). Triple-negative cancer also showed a significant correlation with anti-p53 antibodies (p=0.007). In patients with multiple and/or bilateral breast cancer, the level of anti-p53 was significantly higher than in unilateral breast cancer (62.5% vs 14.7%, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Measurement of anti-p53 antibodies is useful for the prevention of oversight in the evaluation of multiple and/or bilateral breast cancer.