The Clinical Significance between Activation of Nuclear Factor Kappa B Transcription Factor and Overexpression of Her-2/Neu Oncoprotein in Taiwanese Patients with Breast Cancer
Resource
CLINICA CHIMICA ACTA v.334 n.1-2 pp.137-144
Journal
CLINICA CHIMICA ACTA
Journal Volume
v.334
Journal Issue
n.1-2
Pages
137-144
Date Issued
2003
Date
2003
Author(s)
Hou, Ming-Feng
Lin, Shwu-Bin
Yuan, Shyng-Shiou F.
Tsai, Shih-Meng
Wu, Szu-Hua
Ou-Yang, Fu
Hsieh, Jan-Shih
Tsai, Kun-Bow
Huang, Tsung-Jen
Tsai, Li-Yu
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the role of nuclear factor-kappa B ( NF-kappaB) activity in human breast cancer with overexpression of HER-2/ neu oncoprotein, as well as its role on expression of different histological grades of cancer cells taken from Taiwanese breast cancer patients. Materials and methods: Specimens were collected from 82 female breast cancer patients. The HER-2/neu oncoprotein was measured by immunohistochemistry. NF-kappaB activity expression was assessed by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and confirmed by the supershift technique using anti-P65 antibody in both breast cancer tissue and the adjacent normal tissue. The histological grades were measured by Modified Bloom-Richardson Grading Scheme. Results: Of the 82 cancer specimens, 81 ( 98.7%) showed higher or equal expressions of NF-kappaB activity when compared to the adjacent normal tissue. Fifty-five cases (67 .1%) had higher levels of NF-kappaB activity in the cancerous tissue than in the adjacent normal tissue (p<0.005 ). With regard to tumor size, steroid receptors, stages, histological types, and node status, there were no statistically significant differences in NF-kappaB activity between cancerous tissues and adjacent normal tissues. However, significantly higher expressions of NF-kappaB activity were seen in those cases with positive HER2/neu oncoprotein, poorly differentiated histological grades, high nuclear pleomorphisms, and high mitotic counts (p<0.05). Positive HER -2/neu overexpression of oncoprotein had higher NF-kappaB activity (86%) than negative overexpression (60%)( p<0.05). It has been shown that the NF -kappaB activity increases in the HER-2/neu oncoprotein overexpression in human breast cancer. Conclusion: Overexpression of HER-2/neu gene could induce NF-kappaB activity in human breast cancer cells, as has been confirmed in other research on cell lines. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Subjects
NF-kappa B factor
breast cancer
Taiwan
HER-2/neu
histological grade
SDGs