title: Expression and prognostic value of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and its phosphorylated form in mammary carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transcription factor ATF2 is overexpressed in various tumors, but its role in breast cancer is still not understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a study of mammary carcinomas, the expression of ATF2 and its phosphorylated active forms was analyzed by Western blot analysis (WB; pThr69/pThr71-ATF2, n=134) and immunohistochemistry (IHC; p-ATF2-Thr6, n=110). Results were correlated with histological and clinical data, survival data, expression of ERK1/2 and two matrix metalloproteinases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with high ATF2 expression as detected by WB had a significantly shorter overall survival (p = 0.038). This tendency was corroborated by IHC. In contrast, high p-ATF2 expression as found by WB correlated significantly with a well-differentiated phenotype, but not with prognosis. Immunohistochemically detected p-ATF2 overexpression was even associated with prolonged survival (p = 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although high ATF2 expression is associated with a poor prognosis, our data do not point to an oncogenic role of active p-ATF2 in mammary carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knippen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Löning
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jänicke
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milde-Langosch