CD24 expression is specific for tamoxifen-resistant ductal breast cancer cases.
BACKGROUND
In breast cancer, the expression of CD24 represents a poorly recognised unfavourable prognostic factor. CD24 has been described to be potentially down-regulated by estrogen receptor alpha (ER). The present study was aimed at examining the predictive value of CD24 expression in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer cases.


METHODS
Sixty patients with primary invasive ductal breast cancers with post-operative tamoxifen treatment were enrolled in the study. Immmunohistochemical reactions were performed using monoclonal antibodies directed against CD24 and ER.


RESULTS
Cases demonstrating cytoplasmic-membranous expression of CD24 (CD24c-m) proved to be characterised by a significantly lower expression of ER as compared to CD24c-m-negative cases. A multivariate progression analysis based on the Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that CD24c-m expression is an independent prognostic factor for poor overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The data from the present study suggested that CD24c-m expression is specific for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cases. CD24 should be subjected to comprehensive studies as a marker of resistance to tamoxifen treatment.
Surowiak
Pawel
P
Institute of Pathology, Charité Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
Materna
Verena
V
Paluchowski
Piotr
P
Matkowski
Rafal
R
Wojnar
Andrzej
A
Maciejczyk
Adam
A
Pudelko
Marek
M
Kornafel
Jan
J
Dietel
Manfred
M
Kristiansen
Glen
G
Lage
Hermann
H
Zabel
Maciej
M
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen