Distinct spatial expression patterns of AP-2alpha and AP-2gamma in non-neoplastic human breast and breast cancer.
Although transcription factors AP-2alpha and AP-2gamma have been implicated in the control of estrogen receptor (ER) and ErbB-2, their impact for breast cancer is still controversial. To better understand the role of AP-2 proteins in mammary neoplasia, the analysis of their spatial expression pattern in normal breast and breast cancer is required. A total of 51 specimens of female breast cancer patients and a tissue microarray containing 93 additional female breast cancer cases were immunohistochemically stained for AP-2alpha, AP-2gamma, ER and ErbB-2. In 70 cases of the tissue microarray, survival data comprising a period of up to 30 years were present. In non-neoplastic breast tissue, AP-2alpha was expressed in the inner glandular cell layer while AP-2gamma was expressed in the outer myoepithelial cell layer. Ductal carcinoma in situ revealed strongly AP-2alpha-positive tumor cells surrounded by a layer of AP-2gamma-positive myoepithelial cells. In invasive carcinoma, expression of AP-2alpha and AP-2gamma was variable. High expression of ER and AP-2alpha showed better survival rates than low expression of these markers. AP-2gamma expression had no effect on survival. These results for the first time reveal a distinct spatial expression pattern of AP-2alpha and AP-2gamma in normal breast and in ductal carcinoma in situ with specific AP-2gamma expression in myoepithelium. High ER and AP-2alpha expression in invasive breast cancer showed favorable survival rates. Therefore, AP-2alpha expression seems to be associated with better prognosis of breast cancer. AP-2gamma expression has no influence on survival reflecting that myoepithelial cells are not involved in the neoplastic process.
Institute of Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany. Nicolaus.Friedrichs@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Nicolaus
N
Friedrichs
Richard
R
Jäger
Ellen
E
Paggen
Christian
C
Rudlowski
Sabine
S
Merkelbach-Bruse
Hubert
H
Schorle
Reinhard
R
Buettner
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000199:Actins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007633:Keratins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2; D014157:Transcription Factors; C493673:TFAP2A protein, human; C493679:TFAP2C protein, human