Abstract

The identification of markers which could predict the behaviour of tumors, specially breast malignancies, is important mainly because of the variability of progression of the disease. Some tumour markers and their prognostic power are discussed mainly those that use immunohistochemical method and a specimen fixed in formaldehyde and imbedded in parafine. Hormonal receptors are less subject to doubt and those tomours which are positive for these markers are, generally, smaller, whith a lower histologic and nuclear grade, a better response to hormone therapy and a better prognosis. Other tumour markers present controversies about their efficacy, but many papers link their presence to high histological grade malignancies and a poor prognosis. Different oppinions found in the literature are discussed and it may be concluded that more studies are needed before tumour markers could be used as prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Key words: breast neoplasms; tumor markers, biological; hormonal receptors; c-erbB-2; PCNA; p53.