Role of PRL-3, Snail, Cytokeratin and Vimentin expression in epithelial mesenchymal transition in breast carcinoma.

Abstract

To study epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer, molecules such as PRL-3, Snail, Cytokeratin and Vimentin involved in EMT were evaluated. In this study, m-RNA expression of PRL3 and Snail by RT PCR, protein expression of PRL-3, Snail, Cytokeratin and Vimentin by immunohistochemistry were evaluated on paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 100 patients with breast cancer. PRL3 m-RNA expression (above cut off level > 2487301.00) and PRL-3 protein expression was noted in 52% and 70% of breast carcinoma patients, respectively. The higher incidence of PRL3 protein than m-RNA expression could be due to post translation modification. Further, Snail m-RNA expression (above cut off level > 1285142.00) and Snail protein expression was noted in 53% and 54% of breast cancer patients respectively and Snail protein expression was found significantly higher in patients with pre-menopausal status. The loss of cytokeratin expression in 32% and gain of vimentin expression in 17% was noted in these patients. Vimentin expression was found significantly higher in patients with stage IV disease, BR score 4 and PR negativity. In multivariate survival analysis, Vimentin expression found as strong indicator of biologically aggressive breast cancer predicting reduced disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In our study reveals that Vimentin expression emerged as significant biomarker for predicting reduced DFS and OS in breast cancer. The study proposes routine evaluation of Vimentin with other predictive parameters can allow use of EMT inhibitors with conventional therapy to revert EMT in breast cancer.