title: The proto-oncogene/translation factor eIF4E: a survey of its expression in breast carcinomas.
abstract: The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-4E binds to the cap structure of mRNAs as one component of the eIF-4 translation initiation complex, which mediates the recruitment of mRNA to the ribosomes. Overexpression of eIF-4E can result in oncogenic transformation and uncontrolled growth of mammalian cells, presumably by facilitating the expression of growth-control gene products which are normally translationally repressed. Whereas the mechanism of eIF-4E-mediated transformation is being actively pursued, clinical investigations into the expression of eIF-4E in prevalent human cancers are lacking. We have recently initiated a screen of breast carcinomas by probing with eIF-4E antiserum. Using Western blots, we have analyzed the level of eIF-4E in 38 carcinomas, 7 normal samples and 3 fibroadenomas. We found that eIF-4E was elevated 3- to 10-fold in virtually all the carcinomas we analyzed, but not in fibroadenomas. This analysis was also confirmed by immunohistological staining in situ, showing that overexpression of eIF-4E can be readily identified at the single-cell level. Our results suggest that an elevation of eIF-4E may be an essential component in the development of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130-3932, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kerekatte
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smiley
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gelder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Benedetti
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism*; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes
chemical_list: D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas