title: Expression of EMT Markers SLUG and TWIST in Breast Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been observed in progression of in situ breast cancer to the invasive form and might be initiated by snail family zinc finger 2 (SLUG) and twist family bHLH transcription factor 1 (TWIST) protein overexpression. During this phenomenon, cells lose their epithelial phenotype and acquire mesenchymal features. The aim of the study was to examine the association of EMT markers SLUG and TWIST with clinicopathological data and the possibility of using these proteins as prognostic markers of breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) of SLUG and TWIST expression was performed on archival paraffin samples of 19 cases with fibrocystic breast changes (control group), 148 cases of invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC) and 26 of invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC). Laser capture microdissection for isolation of cells from 17 frozen samples of IDC was employed and subsequently SLUG and TWIST mRNA expression in cancer and stromal cells was detected separately by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SLUG and TWIST expression in IDC was significant higher in stromal cells regardless of the method of quantification used (p<0.001 for SLUG mRNA, and p<0.0001 for SLUG IHC, TWIST IHC and TWIST mRNA expression). Positive correlation of SLUG and TWIST protein and mRNA expression was observed in stromal cells of IDC (r=0.347; p<0.0001 and r=0.704; p<0.01, respectively). Expression of TWIST protein in IDC was higher in cancer cells of cases with shorter event-free survival period, as well as in stromal cells of cases with shorter overall survival period (p<0.05 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stromal cells could play a role in the regulation of EMT in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jedrzej
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grzegrzolka
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Martyna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biala
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wojtyra
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland Department of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kobierzycki
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Mateusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olbromski
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomulkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piotrowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Pathology, Center of Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rys
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podhorska-Okolow
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland Department of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland piotr.dziegiel@umed.wroc.pl.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dziegiel
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; C103173:TWIST1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1
keywords: EMT; SLUG; TWIST; breast cancer; epithelial-mesenchymal transition