The potential to metabolize endogenous and exogenous substances may influence breast cancer development and tumor growth. Therefore, the authors investigated the protein expression of Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoforms and cytochrome P450 (CYP) known to be involved in the metabolism of steroid hormones and endogenous as well as exogenous carcinogens in breast cancer tissue to obtain new information on their possible role in tumor progression. Expression of GST pi, mu, alpha and CYP1A1/2, 1A2, 3A4/5, 1B1, 2E1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry for primary breast carcinomas of 393 patients from the German GENICA breast cancer collection. The percentages of positive tumors were 50.1 and 44.5% for GST mu and CYP2E1, and ranged from 13 to 24.7% for CYP1A2, GST pi, CYP1A1/2, CYP3A4/5, CYP1B1. GST alpha was expressed in 1.8% of tumors. The authors observed the following associations between strong protein expression and histopathological characteristics: GST expression was associated with a better tumor differentiation (GST mu, p 5 0.018) and with reduced lymph node metastasis (GST pi, p 5 0.02). In addition, GST mu expression was associated with a positive estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status (p < 0.001). CYP3A4/5 expression was associated with a positive nodal status (p 5 0.018). Expression of CYP1B1 was associated with poor tumor differentiation (p 5 0.049). Our results demonstrate that the majority of breast carcinomas expressed xenobiotic and drug metabolizing enzymes. They particularly suggest that GST mu and pi expression may indicate a better prognosis and that strong CYP3A4/5 and CYP1B1 expression may be key features of nonfavourable prognosis. ' 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Key words: breast carcinoma; GST; CYP; immunohistochemistry; estrogen receptor; progesterone receptor The influence of exogenous and endogenous factors on tumor growth partly depends on the individual potential to metabolize these substances. Phase I and phase II enzymes are key players in the metabolism of a huge number of exogenous and endogenous compounds including steroid hormones. Usually, phase I and phase II are detoxification processes, but this metabolism can also lead to highly reactive electrophiles that can bind to macromolecules, e.g., proteins and DNA. Moreover, these enzymes are highly polymorphic, giving rise to variations in enzymatic activity.1 This may influence predisposition to cancer as well as tumor development and progression.2 Therefore, these enzymes are candidates for the investigation of a potential role in breast cancer.Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are phase II metabolizing isoenzymes. They facilitate clearance of endogenous hydrophobic compounds such as hormones, steroids, haem, bilirubin and bile acids. Furthermore, they are essential for metabolism of environmental carcinogens, drugs and pesticides by catalyzing the conjunction of reactive chemical intermediates to soluble glutathione conjugates.3 Seven classes of cytosolic GSTs are recognized in mammalian tissues (alpha, mu, pi, sigma, om...