Phosphorylation/Cytoplasmic Localization of p21Cip1/WAF1 Is Associated with HER2/ neu Overexpression and Provides a Novel Combination Predictor for Poor Prognosis in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract
Purpose: The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) expression has been shown dramatically increased in neoplastic tissues and tumor cell lines originated from ovary, liver, colon, breast, or brain relative to untransformed tissues. Its expression has been also associated with tumor progression and aggressiveness. To explore whether PBR expression level could be of prognostic value in invasive breast cancer, we studied a series of 117 patients who underwent surgery for primary breast carcinomas and were followed-up for 8 years.