title: Activator protein-2 in carcinogenesis with a special reference to breast cancer--a mini review.
abstract: Activator protein-2 (AP-2) transcription factors are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis. AP-2alpha has been suggested to function as a tumor suppressor in many cancers and AP-2gamma to be a marker of testicular and germ cell malignancies. At least 3 of the 5 AP-2 family members identified to date, AP-2alpha, AP-2beta and AP-2gamma, are known to be expressed in breast tissue and thought to coordinate the growth and development of the breast via regulation of several breast-related genes such as human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) and estrogen receptor (ER). The function of AP-2alpha seems to be tumor suppressive in breast tissue, whereas the role of the other AP-2 family members is less well known. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of AP-2 in carcinogenesis, especially in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Kuopio, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Johanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pellikainen
authors.forename: Veli-Matti
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Kosma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2