Expression of NM23 and tenascin in invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast

Objective: In this series of ductal carcinoma of the breast, immunoexpression of antimetastasis gene nm23 and tenascin was examined and the role in prognosis was investigated by correlation with the tumour grade and stage, and ER/PR immunoexpression.

Material and methods: In this study 27 ductal carcinomas of the breast were analysed for expression of tenascin and nm23 antimetastasis genes by immunohistochemistry.

Results: The results of our study revealed a statistically significant correlation between nm23-H1 immunoexpression and lymph node metastasis. We also found a statistically significant correlation between tenascin and nm23-H1 immunoexpression. Our results suggest that tenascin limits tumour spread.

Conclusion(s): Antimetastasis gene expression can be used in predicting lymph node metastasis in ductal carcinomas of the breast.

Tenascin; nm23 expression; Ductal carcinoma; Breast

[1] Gilewski T., Norton L.: "The molecular basis of cancer". In: "Cytogenetics of Neoplasia-Growth and Spread of Cancer" Mendelsohn J., Howley P. M., Israel M. A., Liotta L. A. (eds) Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 1995, 143.

[2] Bertheau P., Steinberg S. M., Merino M. J.: "C-erbB-2, p53, and nm23 gene product expression in breast cancer in young women immunohistochemical analysis and clinicopathologic correlation" Hum. Pathol., 1998, 4, 323.

[3] Bland K. I., Konstadoulakis M. M., Vezeridis M. P., Wanebo H. J: "Oncogene protein co-expression. Value of Ha-ras, c-myc, c-fos, and p53 as discriminants for breast carcinoma". Ann. Surg., 1995, 221(6), 706.

[4] Bevilacqua G., Sobel M. E., Liotta L.A., Steeg P. S.: "Association of low nm23 RNA levels in human primary infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas with lymph node involvement and other histopathological high metastatic potential". Cancer Res., 1989, 49, 5185.

[5] Mackie E. J., Chiquet-Ehrisman R., Pearson C. A., Inaguma Y., Taya K., Kawarada Y., et al.,: "Tenascin is a stromal marker for epithelial malignancy in the mammary gland". Proc. Natl. Acad Sci., 1987, 84, 4621.

[6] Iskaros B. F., Hu X., Sparano J. A., F ineberg S. A.: "Tenascin pattern of expression and established prognostic factors in invasive breast carcinoma". J. Surg. Oneal., 1998, 68(2), 107.

[7] Tokes A. M., Paku S., Toth S.. Paal S., Kulka J.. Toth J., et al: "Tenascin expression in primary and reccurent breast carcinomas and the effect on breast tumor cell cultures". Pathol. Oncol. Res., 2000, 6(3), 202.

[8] MelisM., Baiocchini A., Soda G., Bosco D.: "Tenascin expression in elastotic cuffs of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast". Pathol. Res. Prac., 1997. 193, 479.

[9] Steeg P., Bevilacqua G., Kopper L., Thorgeirsson U. P., Talmadge J. E., Liotta L.A., Sobel M. E.: " Evidence for a novel gene associated with low tumor metastatic potential". J. Natl. Cancer inst., 1988, 80, 200.

[10] Elston C. W., Ellis I. 0.: "The breast". In: Elston C. W., Ellis I. o..(eds). "Assessment of Histological Grade". Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 1998, 365.

[11] Elston C. W., Ellis I. 0., Goulding H., Pinder S. E.: "The breast". In: Elston C. W., Ellis I. 0., (eds). "Role of Pathology in the Prognosis and Management of Breast Cancer". Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone, 1998, 385.

[12] Howlett A. R., Petersen 0. W., Steeg P. S.. Bissel M. J.: "A novel f'Unction for the nm-23H I gene: overexpression in human breast carcinoma cells leads to the formation of basement membrane and growth arrest". J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 1994, 86, 1833.

[13] Hahnel E., Dawkins H., Robbins P., Hahnel R.: "Expression of stromelysin-3 and nm 23 in breast carcinoma and related tissues" Int J. Cancer , 1994, 58, 157.

[14] Charpin C., Garcia S., Bonnier P., Martini F., Andrae L., Horschowski N., et al.: "Prognostic significance of Nm23/NDPK expression in breast carcinoma, assessed on IO ye,u follow-up by automated and quantitative immunocytochemical assays". J Pathol., 1998, 184(9), 401.

[15] Yoshida H., Kijima H., Terasaki Y., Suto A. Omiya H., ShimoJima K., et al.: " Heterogeneous expression of nm23 gene product as a predictor of lymph nodal status in human breast cancer". Int. J. Oneal., 1998, 13(6), 1141.

[16] Midulla C., De Iorio P.. N agar C., Pisani T., Cenci M., Valli C., et al.: "Jmmunohistochemical expression of nm23-Hl ,Ki67 and DNA ploidy: correlation with lymph node status and other clinical pathologic parameters in breast cancer". Anticancer Res., 1999. 19(5B), 4033.