The neurotensin receptor-1 pathway contributes to human ductal breast cancer progression.
BACKGROUND
The neurotensin (NTS) and its specific high affinity G protein coupled receptor, the NT1 receptor (NTSR1), are considered to be a good candidate for one of the factors implicated in neoplastic progression. In breast cancer cells, functionally expressed NT1 receptor coordinates a series of transforming functions including cellular migration and invasion.


RESULTS
we investigated the expression of NTS and NTSR1 in normal human breast tissue and in invasive ductal breast carcinomas (IDCs) by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. NTS is expressed and up-regulated by estrogen in normal epithelial breast cells. NTS is also found expressed in the ductal and invasive components of IDCs. The high expression of NTSR1 is associated with the SBR grade, the size of the tumor, and the number of metastatic lymph nodes. Furthermore, the NTSR1 high expression is an independent factor of prognosis associated with the death of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
these data support the activation of neurotensinergic deleterious pathways in breast cancer progression.
Dupouy
Sandra
S
INSERM-UPMC CDR Saint-Antoine EQ.5, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.
Viardot-Foucault
Véronique
V
Alifano
Marco
M
Souazé
Frédérique
F
Plu-Bureau
Geneviève
G
Chaouat
Marc
M
Lavaur
Anne
A
Hugol
Danielle
D
Gespach
Christian
C
Gompel
Anne
A
Forgez
Patricia
P
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin / Q000378:metabolism*
D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin; D004958:Estradiol