OBJECTIVETo study BRCA1 gene expression in sporadic breast cancer in Han nationality and its relations to clinical pathological parameters.

METHODSImmunohistochemical method was used to detect the BRCA1 protein in paraffin embedded breast cancer tissue of 51 patients. The relationship between BRCA1 protein and clinical pathological features was analysed.

RESULTSBRCA1 protein was located in the nuclear of breast cancer cells. The rate of its down regulation of expression was 49.0% (25/51), which correlated reversely with c-erbB-2 protein, but did not correlate with histological grading, tumor size, lymph node involvement and patient age.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of BRCA1 protein expression may be a reflection of its gene alteration. So it may be a primary method for screening the susceptibility to breast cancer.