Abstract
BackgroundNm23 protein is a metastasis suppressor protein, expressed in all tissues. Reduced Nm23 expression is related to a high incidence of lymph node and distant metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with cancers. The present study was done to analyze the expression of Nm23 using immunohistochemistry in non-neoplastic and neoplastic breast lesions.MethodsSections from 93 samples were studied and classified into non-proliferative breast lesion (13), fibrodenoma (7), proliferative breast lesion (13), carcinoma in situ (20), invasive carcinoma (23) and metastatic deposits in lymph nodes (17).ResultsNm23 expression in these groups showed a progressive down regulation with increasing neoplastic transformation. On comparing the various groups, nm23 expression was significantly different between the various subgroups with greatest expression in non-proliferative lesions and least in metastatic deposits (p < 0.050).ConclusionIt is concluded that the modulation of nm23 in a spectrum of breast lesions can be indicative of metastatic phenotype and help to predict the aggressiveness of disease.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of the developed countries with a persistently rising incidence [1]
There were 93 samples in total; which were classified by the criteria of Dupont and Page[17,18] into six groups as: Non proliferative breast disease-13 cases, fibroadenoma-7 cases, proliferative breast disease-13 cases, atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma in situ-20 cases, invasive carcinoma(ductal and lobular)-23 cases, and metastatic deposits in lymph nodes-17 cases
Scores were statistically significanty higher when compared with other groups
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of the developed countries with a persistently rising incidence [1]. Extensive research on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects has contributed little to decrease the mortality. This may be attributed to a relative lack of understanding of the natural history of disease and heterogeneity of pre invasive lesions [2]. Majority of breast cancer patients succumb to metastatic disease. Nm23 protein is a metastasis suppressor protein, expressed in all tissues. Reduced Nm23 expression is related to a high incidence of lymph node and distant metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with cancers. The present study was done to analyze the expression of Nm23 using immunohistochemistry in non-neoplastic and neoplastic breast lesions
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