Expression of STAT3, nm23, and CXCR4 in primary breast cancer and its significance

Abstract

Objective To explore the expression of STAT3, nm23, CXCR4 in primary breast cancer and their correlation. Methods The expression of nm23, and CXCR4 proteins in 82 cases of breast benign disease and 368 cases of primary breast cancer was detected by using SP immunohistochemical staining. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) was applied to detect STAT3 mRNA expression in breast benign disease and primary breast cancer. The correlation between STAT3 and nm23, CXCR4 was also analyzed. Results The average level of STAT3 mRNA expression in breast benign disease and breast cancer was 0. 10 ± 0. 02 and 0.48 ± 0. 09 respectively (P ＜ 0. 01). The average level of STAT3 mRNA expression in breast cancer in situ and invasive breast cancer was 0. 32 ± 0. 05 and 0.95 ±0. 18 respectively (P ＜ 0. 01). The average level of STAT3 mRNA expression in breast cancer without axillary lymph node metastases and with axillary lymph node metastases was 0. 38 ± 0.06 and 0. 88 ±0. 15 respectively (P ＜0. 01). The positive rate of nm23 protein in breast benign disease was obviously higher than that in breast cancer. The positive rate of nm23 protein in breast cancer in situ was significantly higher than that in invasive breast cancer. The positive rate of nm23 protein in breast cancer without axillary lymph node metastases was markedly higher than that in breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastases. The positive rate of CXCR4 protein in breast benign disease was obviously lower than that in breast cancer. The positive rate of CXCR4 protein in breast cancer in situ was significantly lower than that in invasive breast cancer. The positive rate of CXCR4 protein in breast cancer without axillary lymph node metastases was markedly lower than that in breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastases. The expression of STAT3 and nm23 had an obviously negative correlation (P ＜0. 05 ). However, there was an obviously positive correlation between the expression of STAT3 and CXCR4 (P ＜0. 05). Conclusion nm23,and CXCR4 proteins play an important role in the invasiveness and metastasis of primary breast cancer. The ability to invasiveness and metastasis of primary breast cancer was perhaps controlled by STAT3 sisnal pathway with impact on nm23 and CXCR4. Key words: STAT3; CXCR4; Breast carcinoma