title: Emerging prognostic markers related to mesenchymal characteristics of poorly differentiated breast cancers.
abstract: Despite the screening program, breast cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in women in the industrialized world. In this study, we investigate the correlation among poorly differentiated carcinoma, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon, and expression of NF-kB, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), K-RAS, and PTX3 in breast cancer in 100 breast biopsies. Samples were classified as follows: 30 benign lesions (BL), 30 ductal infiltrating carcinomas low grade (MLG1), and 40 ductal infiltrating carcinomas high grade (MLG3). Expression of vimentin, CD44, β-catenin, NF-kB, SHH, K-RAS, CD44, and PTX3 was studied by immunohistochemistry. The different rate of cells with vimentin, nuclear β-catenin, and CD44 expression in MLG3 as compared with MLG1 and BL suggested that the process of de-differentiation of breast cancer cells could be related to the EMT. Our results showed a significant increase in NF-kB signal in MLG3 (2.33 ± 0.77) with respect to MLG1 (1.26 ± 0.55) and BL (0.86 ± 0.52). SHH expression appeared low in BL (1.00 ± 0.41) and homogenously widespread in MLG1 (1.23 ± 0.63) and MLG3 (1.56 ± 0.54). An important increase in K-RAS signal was observed in MLG3 compared to that in BL (2.20 ± 0.69 vs 0.82 ± 0.59). As regards PTX3, we observed a strong expression in MLG3 (2.00 ± 0.78) with respect to BL (0.58 ± 0.55) and MLG1 (1.53 ± 0.76). The recurring expression of NF-kB, SHH, K-RAS, and PTX3 in vimentin- and CD44-positive breast cancer cells allows to speculate that breast cells acquire the ability to express these molecules in concomitance to EMT phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.|TMALab s.r.l., Spin-off of University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scimeca
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.|TMALab s.r.l., Spin-off of University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antonacci
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonfiglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Oreste Claudio
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Buonomo
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy. elena.bonanno@uniroma2.it.|TMALab s.r.l., Spin-off of University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. elena.bonanno@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonanno
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014746:Vimentin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015820:Cadherins; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D014746:Vimentin; D000099153:Pentraxins; C497483:CD44 protein, human; C117307:KRAS protein, human; C509239:SHH protein, human
keywords: Breast cancer markers; Epithelial to mesenchymal transition; K-RAS; NF-kB; PTX3; Sonic Hedgehog