[A quantitative immuno-fluorescence analysis of alpha-tubulin and gamma-tubulin proteins in precancerous lesion and carcinoma of the breast and their clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
In order to explore the correlation between the centrosome aberration and oncogenesis of the breast carcinoma, the expression of alpha-tubulin and gamma-tubulin proteins in breast precancerous lesions, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) was investigated.


METHODS
Quantitative immunofluorescence analysis was performed for measuring centrosome proteins by FITC-labeled monoclonal anti-alpha and anti-gamma-tubulin antibodies in 90 cases with precancerous lesions, DCIS and IDC of the breast, respectively. Normal breast tissue from 30 cases were taken as control group.


RESULTS
The average of positive (FITC-labeled) cells were 3.2, 11.6, 14.8, 23.1 (alpha-tubulin) and 3.3, 10.7, 14.5, 24.5 (gamma-tubulin) in four groups, respectively. There were significant differences of alpha-tubulin or gamma-tubulin expression among those groups (P = 0.000), respectively. The highest expression quantity was in IDC group and the lowest was in normal breast tissue. Their expression was significantly associated with cellular proliferation and differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
There is over-expression of the centrosome tubulin protein in the precancerous stage of the breast. The centrosome aberration may play an important role during the crucial early step of oncogenesis and it may promote the cellular cancerization or transformation into malignancy. Quantitative immuno-fluorescence analysis and immunohistochemistry can be complementary each other.
Niu
Yun
Y
National Key laboratory of Breast Cancer Research (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Cancer Institute and Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Medicad University, Tianjin 300060, China. yunniu2000@126.com
Wang
Ying
Y
Wei
Li
L
Wei
Xi-yin
XY
Niu
Rui-fang
RF
D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000032:analysis*
D014404:Tubulin