Notch-1 and notch-4 receptors as prognostic markers in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Studies looking at immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of Notch receptors in breast cancer and correlation with known prognostic factors are sparse.


METHODS
IHC staining for nuclear, cytoplasmic, and membrane Notch-1 (N1), Notch-4 (N4), and Jagged-1 (JAG1) was performed and correlated with known prognostic factors.


RESULTS
Of 48 breast cancers, 36 (67%) were invasive, mean age was 50 years (range 43-86 years), 37 (77%) were estrogen receptor (ERα) positive, and 13 (27%) node positive. There was significantly more marked N1 membranous staining in ERα-positive tumors (P < .05). On univariate analysis, cytoplasmic N1 was significantly correlated with node status and tumor grade (P < .05); both cytoplasmic and membranous N4 significantly correlated with Ki67 (P < .05); and membranous JAG1 significantly correlated with Ki67 (P < .05). On multivariate analysis, only cytoplasmic N1 significantly correlated with node status.


CONCLUSIONS
IHC of Notch markers is feasible and correlates with known prognostic factors consistent with a biological role of Notch signaling in breast cancer progression.
Yao
Katharine
K
NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL, USA. kyao@northshore.org
Rizzo
Paola
P
Rajan
Prabha
P
Albain
Kathy
K
Rychlik
Karen
K
Shah
Sneha
S
Miele
Lucio
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000606273:JAG1 protein, human; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; C106075:NOTCH4 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins