NPI (Nottingham prognostic index) including tumor size, lymph node status and histological grade is widely used for the estimation of prognosis in breast carcinomas, and recently, the immunohistochemical index (IHPI) using ER, PR, c-erbB-2, and p53 expressions was suggested as an useful prognosticator. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability of NPI and IHPIs in 141 breast carcinomas.

Statistical analysis among size, lymph node status, histological grade, NPI, ER, PR, c-erbB-2, p53 and MIB-1 labelling index(LI) and IHPIs were performed. The IHPI-1 battery consisted of ER, PR, c-erbB-2 and p53. In the IHPI-2 battery, MIB-1 LI was added to the IHPI-1 battery. In the IHPI-3 battery, MIB-1 LI was also added, but ER and PR were not included.

The prognostic estimation based on NPI showed significant relationships with PR, c-erbB-2, MIB-1, and the prognostic estimations according to IHPI-1, IHPI-2 and IHPI-3 battery. In addition, MIB-1 LI revealed a positive relationship to the histological grade. The prognostic estimation based on IHPI-3 showed a positive relationship to the lymph node status.

The prognostic estimation based on NPI and a battery of immunohistochemical stains consisted of c-erbB-2, p53 and MIB-1 seem to be reliable in breast carcinomas.