Significance and correlation of MAPK/ERK2 and PI3-K in human breast tumorigenesis

Abstract

ObjectiveMAPK ((Mitogen-actived Protein Kinase) and PI3-K (Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) pathways have been implicated in the mitogenic pathways regulating cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and transformation and thus involved in tumorigenesis. This study was designed to examined the protein expression, activity and mRNA levels of both ERK and PI3-K in a series of breast tumors and adjacent mammary glands, and to figure out the changes of ERK2 and PI3-K during the dynamic process of breast tumorigenesis.MethodsA series of breast tumors and adjacent mammary glands were collected at surgery, including 37 cases of breast cancer, 6 cases of atypical hyperplasia-breast carcinoma in situ and 15 cases of benign conditions. Western blot, kinase activity assay and RT-PCR were used to detect the protein expression, kinase activity and mRNA level, respectively.ResultsThe reveals of protein, activity and mRNA of ERK2 were elevated during the stages of both initiation and progression. The increasing tendency in breast cancer was equal to atypical hyperplasia-in situ carcinoma, but higher than in benign lesion and adjacent normal mammary gland. PI3-K was activated during the stage of progression of breast cancer. An inverse correlation between the activity of PI3-K and ERK2 in breast cancer was found.ConclusionOur findings indicate that ERK2 may perform its function during both the stages of breast cancer initiation and breast cancer progression, while PI3-K may exert its effect during the stage of breast cancer progression. Both PI3-k and ERK2 are involved in the tumorigenesis of breast cancer.