Clinicopathological significance of mesothelin expression in invasive breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the expression profile of the mesothelin (MSLN) gene and its prognostic significance in breast cancer.


METHODS
To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of mesothelin, immunohistochemistry was used to assess the level of mesothelin  protein in surgically resected, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded invasive breast carcinoma specimens. Associations between mesothelin and other biomarkers, including oestrogen receptor (OR), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu), were also evaluated.


RESULTS
A total of 182 breast carcinoma specimens were included. Mesothelin protein was present in the membrane of malignant cells. There was correlation between the presence of mesothelin in tumour cells and tumour infiltration of the lymph node. There was no correlation between the presence  of mesothelin and HER2/neu protein, OR and PR in tumour cells. Mesothelin levels were significantly associated with decreased overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymph node status, tumour size, HER2/neu and mesothelin protein levels in breast cancer cells were independent prognostic factors. Mesothelin  could be useful as a prognostic marker of overall survival in invasive breast cancer.
Department of Breast and Thyroid Diseases, Tianjin Union Medicine Centre, Tianjin, China.
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L
Wang
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Z
Niu
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Zhang
X
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Liu
X
X
Wang
F
F
Li
Y
Y
Wang
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D000090204:Mesothelin; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011878:Radiotherapy; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C000715527:MSLN protein, human; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D000090204:Mesothelin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate