title: Altered intracellular localization of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 in human breast cancer.
abstract: Immunohistochemical staining of human breast tissues, using an antibody against fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 [FGFR-3], showed differences in cellular distribution. Both malignant and non-malignant epithelial cells contained FGFR-3 immunoreactivity, but myoepithelial cells and stroma were negative. The staining pattern in malignant epithelial cells was predominantly nuclear, whereas epithelial cells in normal breast tissue showed both cytoplasmic and nuclear elements. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed two isoforms of FGFR-3 corresponding to the FGFR-3-IIIb variant and a previously described exon-deleted nuclear form of FGFR-3, which were present in both malignant and non-malignant epithelial cells. The higher level of nuclear staining and loss of cytoplasmic staining seen in malignant epithelial cells did not correspond to an increase in expression of the exon-deleted form of FGFR-3, nor to any detectable activating point mutations. Since receptor activation can result in its movement to a perinuclear localization, an alternative explanation for the redistribution of FGFR-3-IIIb could be different degrees of activation by a ligand (FGF1 or FGF9). No FGF9 was detected by immunohistochemistry in breast tissues. FGF1, however, is present in the majority of breast cancers and a different tissue distribution of FGF1 was found in breast tissues, showing predominantly nuclear, or a mix of nuclear and cytoplasmic FGFR-3. The difference in FGFR-3 staining patterns may implicate this ligand-receptor pair in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, DuCane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zammit
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gomm
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coope
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shousha
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coombes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C496365:FGFR3 protein, human; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3