title: Fibroblast growth factor 8 is expressed at higher levels in lactating human breast and in breast cancer.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factor 8 can transform NIH3T3 cells and its expression has been found to be associated with breast and prostate cancer. Following our finding that fibroblast growth factor 8 mRNA expression is increased in breast cancer, we have undertaken an immunohistochemistry study of fibroblast growth factor 8 expression in a series of human breast tissues and other normal tissues. Our findings confirm increased expression of fibroblast growth factor 8 in malignant breast tissue but also show significant fibroblast growth factor 8 expression in non-malignant breast epithelial cells. No significant difference in fibroblast growth factor 8 expression was found between different grades of ductal carcinoma, lobular carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in-situ or cancer of different oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor or nodal status. The highest levels of fibroblast growth factor 8 expression were found in lactating breast tissues and fibroblast growth factor 8 was also detected in human milk. A survey of other normal tissues showed that fibroblast growth factor 8 is expressed in the proliferative cells of the dermis and epithelial cells in colon, ovary fallopian tube and uterus. Fibroblast growth factor 8 appears to be expressed in several organs in man and appears to have an importance in lactation.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research (UK) Laboratories, Department of Cancer Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zammit
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coope
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gomm
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shousha
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Coombes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007774:Lactation; D008875:Middle Aged; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C496456:FGF8 protein, human; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors