title: Strong association of fascin expression with triple negative breast cancer and basal-like phenotype in African-American women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fascin, an actin bundling protein, plays a critical role in cell motility due to formation of actin rich protrusions called filopodia, important in cell migration, invasion and metastatic spread. Fascin overexpression has been associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition and correlates with progression and unfavourable prognosis in breast carcinoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate fascin expression by immunohistochemistry and correlate the expression pattern with clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer in African-American (AA) women, in whom triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype, is more prevalent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue microarrays were constructed from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of tumour tissue from primary breast carcinomas in 202 AA women. Immunohistochemical detection of fascin was correlated with four major subtypes of breast carcinoma (luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and triple negative (TN)) and other clinicopathological factors, including age, grade, tumour size, stage, regional lymph node status and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a significant association between fascin expression and TN subtype, oestrogen receptor (ER) negativity, progesterone receptor (PR) negativity, Elston-Nottingham (EN) grade 3 and decreased overall survival. There was also a significant association between expression of CK 5/6, a marker of basal-like phenotype, and fascin expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that fascin is a marker for TN subtype having a basal-like phenotype and decreased overall survival. Fascin may represent a target for therapy in TNBC in AA women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Howard University Hospital, , Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Ashwini K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Esnakula
authors.forename: Luisel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ricks-Santi
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwagyan
authors.forename: Yasmine M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kanaan
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: DeWitty
authors.forename: Lori L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Wayne A I
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Frederick
authors.forename: Tammey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Naab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D064726:Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C020324:fascin
keywords: Breast Cancer; Filament Proteins; Immunohistochemistry; Tumour Markers