The neu-protein and breast cancer.
The neu-protein is overexpressed in about 20% of invasive duct cell carcinomas of the breast. The only reliable sign for neu-overexpression by immunohistochemistry is membrane staining. Its overexpression is correlated with decreased overall survival and disease free survival due to increased metastatic activity of neu-overexpressing tumour cells. This increased metastatic potential is a consequence of the motility enhancing activity of the neu-protein, which is exclusively expressed on pseudopodia, and to a lesser extent of its growth stimulating effect. From a clinical point of view, the assessment of neu-overexpression in breast cancer might become a useful tool in the future treatment of patients by chemotherapy, since patients whose tumour shows neu-overexpression benefit from higher doses of chemotherapy. The molecule plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Paget's disease of the breast. A chemotactic factor which is secreted by epidermal keratinocytes attracts the Paget cells to spread into the epidermis and acts via the neu-protein. In ductal carcinoma in situ, the combination of neu-overexpression and large cell type is highly correlated with extent of disease and therefore neu-overexpression might be a predictive marker for recurrence of disease after tumour resection.
De Potter
C R
CR
N. Goormaghtigh Institute of Pathology, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Schelfhout
A M
AM
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010144:Paget's Disease, Mammary / Q000737:chemistry; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases