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The expression of Ras-GTPase activating protein SH3 domain-binding proteins, G3BPs, in human breast cancers

Juliet French1, Renée Stirling, Michael Walsh

  • 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 4072, Australia.

The Histochemical Journal
|February 18, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Ras-GTPase activating protein SH3 domain-binding proteins 1 and 2 (G3BP1 and G3BP2) are involved in various cellular processes. G3BP2 protein expression is specific to human breast cancer and overexpressed in 88% of tumors studied.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Signal Transduction

Background:

  • Ras-GTPase activating protein SH3 domain-binding proteins 1 and 2 (G3BP1 and G3BP2) are encoded by separate genes and implicated in Ras and NF-kappaB signaling, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, and RNA processing.
  • G3BP1 has known roles in cancer biology, while G3BP1 and G3BP2 transcripts are universally expressed.
  • Protein expression of G3BP1 and G3BP2 is known to be tissue and cell-type specific.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of G3BP1 and G3BP2 proteins in human breast cancer tissues.
  • To determine if G3BP2 expression is specific in human breast cancer and its prevalence.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of G3BP1 and G3BP2 protein expression in human breast cancer samples.
  • Quantification of G3BP2 expression levels in tumor tissues.

Main Results:

  • G3BP1 and G3BP2 proteins were expressed in human breast cancers.
  • G3BP2 protein expression was found to be specific to human breast cancer tissue.
  • G3BP2 was overexpressed in 88% of the examined breast tumors (n=58).

Conclusions:

  • G3BP2 protein expression is a specific marker for human breast cancer.
  • The significant overexpression of G3BP2 in breast tumors suggests a potential role in tumorigenesis.

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