Abstract
Objectives. To investigate the expression of estrogen (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in human breast cancer (BC), and the correlation of these four parameters with clinicopathological features of BC. Methods and Results. We performed an immunohistochemical SABC method for the identification of ER, PR, NF-κB, and TNF-α expression in 112 patients with primary BC. The total positive expression rate of ER, PR, NF-κB, and TNF-α was 67%, 76%, 84%, and 94%, respectively. The expressions of ER and PR were correlated with tumor grade, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01, resp.), but not with age, tumor size, histological subtype, age at menarche, menopause status, number of pregnancies, number of deliveries, and family history of cancer. Expressions of ER and PR were both correlated with NF-κB and TNF-α expression (P < 0.05, resp.). Moreover, there was significant correlation between ER and PR (P < 0.0001) as well as between NF-κB and TNF-α expression (P < 0.05). Conclusion. PR and ER are highly expressed, with significant correlation with NF-κB and TNF-α expression in breast cancer. The important roles of ER and PR in invasion and metastasis of breast cancer are probably associated with NF-κB and TNF-α expression.
Highlights
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cause of death from cancer in women and one of the important contributors to the global health burden [1]
The strept-avidinbiotin-peroxidase complex (SABC) immunohistochemical staining method was used to detect the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), nuclear factorκB (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in breast cancer tissues
Clinicians rely on the results of progesterone receptors (PR) and ER expression levels to make therapeutic decisions for BC patients
Summary
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cause of death from cancer in women and one of the important contributors to the global health burden [1]. Numerous molecular biomarkers have been introduced during the past decades, only few of them such as estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) are likely to be included in routine clinical practice [2]. ER and PR levels in BC tissue have been used to predict patient’s course of disease and response to adjuvant hormonal therapy [3]. The steroid hormone receptors PR and ER may play important roles in the inflammatory process. Because of the central role of NF-κB in both the inflammatory and immunological responses, inhibition of NF-κB by PR may result in anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive reaction. Previous study confirmed PR as an anti-inflammatory agent in the endothelium, with potential for the negative regulation of immune cell trafficking into tissues [7]. ER has been identified as a regulator of the proinflammatory properties [8]
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