Lymph-node involvement and tumor markers in patients with breast cancer

The existence of estrogen and progesterone receptors, p53, human epidermal receptor-2(HER-2) and cathepsin-D are among the prognostic markers for breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the relationship between these factors and lymph-node involvement. In this case-control analytic study, 105 patients with breast cancer were investigated. After detecting breast mass, surgical biopsy was done and the status of the estrogen and progesterone receptors, p53, HER-2, and cathepsin-D were studied. Collected data were registered in a checklist and were subjected to analysis. There was no relationship between lymph-node involvement and estrogen and progesterone receptors, p53, cathepsin-D and HER-2. In order to get more precise results about hormonal receptors, p53, HER-2 and cathespin-D, a similar research with a larger sample size over a longer period of time is needed.