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Relationship between ERBB2 and E-cadherin expression in human breast cancer
J Palacios1, N Benito, A Pizarro
1Departamento de Antomía Patológica, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Virchows Archiv : an International Journal of Pathology
|January 1, 1995
Summary
This study investigated ERBB2 and E-cadherin (E-CD) in breast cancer. Results suggest ERBB2 does not regulate E-CD transcription in most human breast carcinomas, challenging prior in vitro findings.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- In vitro studies suggest ERBB2 overexpression inhibits E-cadherin (E-CD) transcription, potentially driving breast cancer progression.
- The role of ERBB2 in regulating E-CD expression in vivo remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo relationship between ERBB2 and E-cadherin expression in human breast carcinomas.
- To determine if ERBB2 overexpression correlates with E-CD downregulation in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of ERBB2 and E-cadherin expression in 247 breast carcinoma samples.
- Correlation analysis between ERBB2 and E-cadherin expression and histological grade.
Main Results:
- ERBB2 overexpression was observed in 19.47% of infiltrating ductal carcinomas and correlated with high histological grade.
- E-cadherin expression was preserved in 49.1% of cases and correlated with histological grade.
- No significant relationship was found between ERBB2 and E-cadherin expression in the studied cohort.
Conclusions:
- The findings argue against a significant role for ERBB2 as a transcriptional regulator of E-cadherin in most human breast carcinomas in vivo.
- ERBB2 and E-cadherin expression patterns in different breast carcinoma subtypes do not support the proposed inhibitory mechanism in vivo.