Breast cancer markers.

This review illustrates the relationships linking the ER and the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their kinase pathways in breast cancer. The central role of the ER in activating tumour growth linked gene transcription as well as the cooperating nuclear co-factors very likely implicated in breast cancer tumourigenesis is discussed. The action of ErbB family members has been located upstream of the kinase pathways that begin at plasma membrane and end at the nucleus after complex interconnections with many factors, such as AP-1. The important role of MAPKs and PKB/Akt in cell survival and tumour proliferation is highlighted. Also other factors are discussed such as Fra-1 (a member of the AP-1 complex), E-cadherin (a tumour suppressor), and BRCA1 (another factor involved in tumour growth inhibition). Lactoferrin protein (characteristic of healthy tissues) and resistance proteins have also been briefly discussed.