p53 immunohistochemical analysis of the lymph nodes in node-negative breast cancer patients who had subsequent relapse

We performed a genetic dignosis using p53 immunohistochemistry for the detection of lymph node micrometastasis. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed in 12 node-negative patients with breast cancer who subsequently showed relapse. There was no p53 immunostaining in 197 lymph nodes from 12 patients, while 2 were positive in the 12 primary lesions. p53 immunohistochemistry is not an alternative method for detecting lymph node micrometastasis in node-negative breast cancer.