Expression of protein regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) and E-Cadherin in metastatic breast cancer

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm worldwide. Recently, PRL-3 (phosphatase of regenerating liver-3/PTP4A3) was reported to participate in the progression of breast cancer, but the mechanism still needs clarification. <h3>Aims</h3> To investigate the expression of PRL-3 and E-Cadherin in breast cancer and metastatic tumor and correlate with the clini-copathologic parameters. <h3>Methods</h3> Expressions of PRL-3 and E-Cadherin in 114 primary breast cancer specimens and 73 lymph node metastasis were detected by immunohistochemistry. <h3>Results</h3> Among primary breast cancers examined, there were 11 (9.6%) low grade, 70 (61.4%) moderate grade and 33 (28.9%) high grade malignancy. There was significant correlation between PRL-3 expression and histological grading of breast cancer (<i>p</i>=0.044) and the presence of LN metastasis (<i>p</i><0.001). The significant correlation was also found between expression of E-cadherin and the presence of LN metastasis (<i>p</i>=0.001). The expression of PRL-3 in primary site was significantly correlated with metastatic site (<i>p</i><0.001). Then, the result showed that the higher the PRL-3 expression the lower the expression of E-cadherin in breast cancer. <h3>Conclusions</h3> These results strongly suggest that PRL-3 plays a role in the progression and metastasis of breast cancer. PRL-3 may down-regulate the expression of E-cadherin and induce metastatic ability in breast cancer.