Retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression in breast cancer: an immunohistochemical study.
OBJECTIVE
The role of retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in breast cancer has been well studied in vitro. The aim of the study was to assess the presence of these molecules in human breast cancer specimens and correlate them with major clinicopathological features.


METHODS
Tissue sections from 82 breast cancer cases clustered according to histological grade, lymph node (LN) and hormone receptor (HR) status were assessed by immunohistochemistry for RXRα and PPARγ.


RESULTS
RXRα was found to be strongly and moderately expressed in 11 (14.10%) and 33 (42.31%) cases, respectively. PPARγ was found to be strongly and moderately expressed in 33 (41.25%) and 25 (31.25%) cases, respectively. Only RXRα expression was inversely correlated with histological grade. Surprisingly, significantly elevated PPARγ expression was found in cases with positive LN status. Survival analysis did not yield significant results.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data support the current thesis of RXRα being a potential target for feature molecular interventions.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Grosshadern Campus, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
N
N
Ditsch
T
T
Vrekoussis
M
M
Lenhard
I
I
Rühl
J
J
Gallwas
T
T
Weissenbacher
K
K
Friese
D
D
Mayr
A
A
Makrigiannakis
U
U
Jeschke
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D047490:Retinoid X Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D047495:PPAR gamma; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D047490:Retinoid X Receptor alpha