title: Expression of Indian Hedgehog signaling molecules in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinicopathological significance and expression pattern of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling molecules in breast normal glands and invasive ductal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 142 cases, including 21 of normal breast and 121 of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, were immunohistochemically analyzed for Ihh, Ptch, Smo, Gli-1, Gli-2, and Gli-3 protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of Hh signaling molecules were greatly enhanced in invasive ductal carcinoma compared with the normal breast epithelia. The expressions of Ihh, Smo, and Gli-2 were increased in PR negative cases, and the expressions of Ihh, Ptch, and Gli-1/2/3 were statistically correlated with increased proliferating index of Ki-67 in invasive ductal carcinoma. Ihh and Gli-1/2/3 expressions were correlated with node metastasis. Additionally, the protein expressions of Ihh, Ptch, and Gli-2 were correlated with the clinical stage of breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hedgehog signaling molecules play an important role in the progression of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Yanbian University College of Medicine, 133000, Yanji, Jilin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Zhenhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C509246:IHH protein, human; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C000606236:PTCH1 protein, human; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C491023:SMO protein, human; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor