Association between transforming growth factor-β1 expression and the clinical features of triple negative breast cancer.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and the clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) through study of TNBC patient tissue samples. The biological effects of TGF-β1 on TNBC cells and the potential signal transduction pathway are additoinally investigated. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to investigate expression changes of the positive rate of TGF-β1 in the TNBC, compared with the non-TNBC group, to explain the association between TGF-β1 and clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with TGF-β1 and subsequently the invasion and migration abilities, and the expression of proteins in certain signaling pathways were assessed before and after the treatment. Positive expression of TGF-β1 was observed in 52.5% of TNBC tissue samples, which was higher than that observed in non-TNBC group (27.5%). High levels of TGF-β1 expression were not significantly associated age, menopausal status, family history of cancer or tumor size; however, tumor histological grade and axillary lymph node metastasis were significantly associated (P<0.05). In addition, when the TGF-β1 expression levels are higher, the 5-year disease-free survival rate is lower. TGF-β1 expression promoted the invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells, and the expression of Smad2 protein and P38 protein was increased, indicating that Smad2 protein and the P38 signaling pathway may serve an important role in TNBC.
Department of Oncology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China.
Ming-Jian
MJ
Ding
Department of Nephrology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China.
K E
KE
Su
Department of Oncology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China.
Guo-Zhong
GZ
Cui
Department of Oncology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China.
Wen-Hua
WH
Yang
Department of Oncology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China.
Liang
L
Chen
Department of Oncology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China.
Meng
M
Yang
Department of Oncology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China.
Yan-Qing
YQ
Liu
Department of Oncology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China.
Dian-Lu
DL
Dai
TGF-β 1; invasion; migration; triple negative breast cancer