Simultaneous evaluation of maspin and CXCR4 in patients with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To study simultaneously the actions of maspin and CXCR4, which share several similar pathways in cancer, including apoptosis and angiogenesis.


METHODS
Our material consisted of 151 invasive breast carcinomas arranged in a tissue microarray setting. Maspin and CXCR4 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Microvessel density was assessed by CD34 immunodetection and apoptosis by the Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay.


RESULTS
Maspin expression was related to CXCR4 expression, apoptosis, patient age and the Nottingham prognostic index. The expression of both maspin and CXCR4 progressively increased in high-grade tumours. In patients with lymph node negative breast cancer, maspin overexpression was associated with increased risk of death. High CXCR4 expression was associated with prolonged survival of patients with high maspin expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that maspin overexpression could prove to be a potentially useful marker, especially for the clinically important group of patients with lymph node negative breast cancer. The expression of CXCR4 is of less significance in our study, but may be informative for specific patient subsets or in a longer time frame.
Tsoli
Efthimia
E
Department of Histology and Embryology, Molecular Carcinogenesis Group, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Tsantoulis
Petros K
PK
Papalambros
Alexandros
A
Perunovic
Branko
B
England
David
D
Rawlands
David A
DA
Reynolds
Gary M
GM
Vlachodimitropoulos
Dimitrios
D
Morgan
Susan L
SL
Spiliopoulou
Chara A
CA
Athanasiou
Thanos
T
Gorgoulis
Vassilis G
VG
D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D040081:Protein Array Analysis / Q000379:methods; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015843:Serpins