Expression of sialylated carbohydrate antigens and nm23-H1 gene in prognosis of breast cancer

Abstract

To assess the significance of expression of sialylated carbohydrate antigens and nm23-H1 gene in metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer. Tissue specimens from 102 cases of primary breast cancer were stained with antibodies against sialyl Lewis A (SleA) and salyl Lewis X (SleX), and nm23-H1 proteins by immunohistochemical methods. Of the 102 cases, the positive cases of SleA and SleX were 24.5% (25/102) and 59.89% (61/102),respectively; the reduced expression of nm23-H1 was showed in 37.3% (38/102) of the cases. The positive expression of SleX and the reduced expression of nm23-H1 gene were significantly associated with lymph node involvement. Among the 100 patients who underwent curative surgery, the disease-free survival rate was significantly correlated with nm23-H1 and SleX expression, respectively,but not with SleA expression. In multivariate analysis using Cox regression model, combination assay of nm23 H1 and SleX expression emerged as independent prognostic factors. These results suggest that nm23-H1 gene and SleX may be involved in the metastatic process in human breast cancer, and immunohistochemical detection of SleX and nm23-H1 may be used as a biologic marker of prognosis.