Angiogenic Molecule Expression is Downregulated in Effusions from Breast Cancer Patients
- 1 November 2005
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
- Vol. 94 (1), 71-80
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-005-7328-3
Abstract
The objective of this study was to analyze site-related expression of angiogenic molecules in breast carcinoma, with the aim of characterizing phenotypic alterations along the clinical progression from primary tumor to pleural effusion. A total of 49 malignant pleural effusions and 68 corresponding solid tumors were studied for protein and mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor KDR, interleukin-8 (IL-8), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the αV integrin subunit using immunohistochemistry, mRNA in situ hybridization (ISH) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression was analyzed for possible association with mRNA expression of the Ets-1 and PEA3 transcription factors. The predictive value of angiogenic molecules, PEA3 and Ets-1, and clinical parameters was analyzed for 18 patients. ISH showed the presence of VEGF, IL-8 and bFGF mRNA in the majority of specimens, irrespective of anatomic site (p > 0.05). However, protein expression of IL-8 and bFGF was lower in effusions compared to primary tumors (p = 0.001 for IL-8, p < 0.001 for bFGF). Expression of αV integrin showed an opposite change, with higher level in effusions compared to primary tumors (p = 0.03). bFGF and αV integrin expression in effusions was also altered compared to lymph node metastases (p = 0.041 and p = 0.016, respectively). IL-8 and Ets-1 (p = 0.035) and VEGF and PEA3 (p = 0.026) mRNA was co-expressed in effusions. In univariate survival analysis, bFGF protein expression in effusions (p = 0.015), PEA3 mRNA expression in primary tumors (p = 0.02) and previous radiation therapy (p = 0.034) predicted shorter disease-free survival. PEA mRNA expression in primary tumors (p = 0.002) and previous chemotherapy (p = 0.048) predicted poor overall survival, with a similar trend for advanced disease stage at diagnosis (p = 0.05). Our data provide evidence regarding molecular changes that occur along the progression of breast carcinoma from primary tumor to effusion, and suggest altered requirement of angiogenic factors in body cavities. The poor disease-free survival for patients with bFGF-positive effusions suggests a role for this growth factor in mediating tumor survival rather than angiogenesis at this site.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- Snail, Slug, and Smad‐interacting protein 1 as novel parameters of disease aggressiveness in metastatic ovarian and breast carcinomaCancer, 2005
- Malignant effusions: From diagnosis to biologyDiagnostic Cytopathology, 2004
- Angiogenesis and VEGF expression in pre‐invasive lesions of the human breastThe Journal of Pathology, 2004
- The Role of Desmin and N-Cadherin in Effusion CytologyThe American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2001
- A Potential Role for Interleukin-8 in the Metastatic Phenotype of Breast Carcinoma CellsThe American Journal of Pathology, 2001
- Transcriptional Control of Matrix Metalloproteinases and the Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix MetalloproteinasesCritical Reviews™ in Eukaryotic Gene Expression, 1997
- Involvement of a Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway in the Regulation of Urokinase Promoter Activity by c-Ha-rasPublished by Elsevier BV ,1995
- Association of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression with Tumor Angiogenesis and with Early Relapse in Primary Breast CancerJapanese Journal of Cancer Research, 1994
- Interleukin-8 as a Macrophage-Derived Mediator of AngiogenesisScience, 1992
- Fibroblast growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases: molecular analysis and signal transductionBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research, 1992