Expression and prognostic value of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and its phosphorylated form in mammary carcinomas.
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.
Knippen
Stefan
S
Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Löning
Thomas
T
Müller
Volkmar
V
Schröder
Christine
C
Jänicke
Fritz
F
Milde-Langosch
Karin
K