Expression of TLR4 and integrin β1 in breast cancer.

Abstract

e21019 Background: Toll-like receptors (TLR) expressed on cells of immune system are essential for provoking the innate response and enhancing adaptive immunity against pathogens. Lately, TLRs were also detected on various tumor cells and their role in tumor pathogenesis was proven. Thus the stimulation of TLR4 receptors of colon cancer cells with lipopolysaccharide enhanced its invasivness and progression by upregulating the expression of integrin β1. Based on these results the aim of our study was to measure TLR4 and integrin β1 expression on breast cancer cells of tumor samples of our patients and compare it with the disease free period and survival. Methods: We analyzed the group of 124 patients with early breast cancer who were treated and followed from the year 2002 in the University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Oncology; their average age was 57 years (30-81 years). The anaysis of TLR4 and integrin β1 on tumor cells was done using immunohistochemistry. Results: The patients were divided in two groups according to TLR4 expression. The group with positive TLR4 expression had shorter survival and disease free period, while the mortality was higher (survival: TLR4 neg. 38 months, TLR4 pos.: 33,5 m.; DSF: TLR4 neg.: 38 m., TLR4 pos.: 32,1 m., mortality: TLR4 neg.: 0%, TLR4 pos.: 5%). According to the expression of integrin β1 patients were divided into four groups: with no expression (0), as well as three grades of expression (I,II,III). The patients with no integrin β1 and those with low expression (I) on cancer cells had shorter DSF compared to those with higher expression (II, III). Mortality was higher with those patients having higher integrin β1 expression (in the nucleus and membrane). Conclusions: Expression of TLR4 on analysed breast cancer samples was connected with shorter survival and DSF, while higher integrin β1 expression correlated with the longer DSF. TLR4 Patient died Survival DSF β1 integrin 0 I II III β1 integrin 0 + I II + III No Yes Months Months Negative 9 0 38 38 DSF Months Months Months Months Mortality % % % 100 0 Nucleus 24 29,2 32,94 32,65 Nucleus 0 3,4 Positive 77 4 33,25 31,78 Cytoplasm 24 33,53 30,71 33,27 Cytoplasm 0 7,4 % 95,06 4,94 Membrane 31,91 29,75 39,17 34,4 Membrane 4,7 0 No significant financial relationships to disclose.