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.
Friedrichs
Nicolaus
N
Institute of Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany. Nicolaus.Friedrichs@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Jäger
Richard
R
Paggen
Ellen
E
Rudlowski
Christian
C
Merkelbach-Bruse
Sabine
S
Schorle
Hubert
H
Buettner
Reinhard
R
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