We examined the association of ATM and MRE11 expression levels with clinicopathological variables independently. ATM protein expression was analyzed in 259 central and 260 peripheral tumor cores. Samples from TC displayed high expression in 84% and low expression in 16%. Samples from TP showed high expression in 79% and low expression in 21%. There was a higher level of ATM expression in TC (mean (M) = 6.84) compared to TP (M = 5.28). This difference was found to be significant (P<0.001).