R Kim1, M Kaneko, K Arihiro, M Emi, K Tanabe, S Murakami, A Osaki, K Inai. 1. International Radiation Information Center, Department of Pathology, Hiroshima Asa City Hospital and Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan. rkim@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer cells grow through estrogen receptor (ER)-signaling pathways that mediate both genomic and nongenomic actions, which cross-talk with growth factors associated with resistance to tamoxifen. The aim of this study was to explore the cross-talk between extranuclear expression of ER and progesterone receptor (PR) and growth factor signaling pathways in primary breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The extranuclear expression of ER and PR was examined in 219 primary breast cancers by immunohistochemical staining. Specimens showing such expression were further examined for the expression of pAkt and aromatase. Staining reactions were scored on the basis of intensity and distribution in the tumors. RESULTS: Extranuclear expression of ER or PR was observed in 21 cases (9.5%), which included four cases for ER and 20 cases for PR. Among these patients, HER-2, pAkt, and aromatase-positivity were observed in 14 cases (66.6%), 13 cases (61.9%), and 14 cases (66.6%), respectively. On the basis of nuclear HR expression, 11 of these cases were categorized as ER-positive/PR-negative, while two were ER-negative/PR-positive. Of these 13 cases, increased pAkt staining was found in 11 cases (84.6%). In particular, among the 11 ER-positive/PR-negative cases, elevated pAkt and aromatase were found in 10 (90.9%; P<0.01) and nine cases (81.8%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PR is expressed extranuclearly more frequently than ER in primary breast cancer, and extranuclear HRs cross-talk with the Akt/HER-2-signaling pathways and activation of aromatase. These observations may explain the more beneficial effects of aromatase inhibitors than tamoxifen for ER-positive/PR-negative patients.
BACKGROUND:Hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer cells grow through estrogen receptor (ER)-signaling pathways that mediate both genomic and nongenomic actions, which cross-talk with growth factors associated with resistance to tamoxifen. The aim of this study was to explore the cross-talk between extranuclear expression of ER and progesterone receptor (PR) and growth factor signaling pathways in primary breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The extranuclear expression of ER and PR was examined in 219 primary breast cancers by immunohistochemical staining. Specimens showing such expression were further examined for the expression of pAkt and aromatase. Staining reactions were scored on the basis of intensity and distribution in the tumors. RESULTS: Extranuclear expression of ER or PR was observed in 21 cases (9.5%), which included four cases for ER and 20 cases for PR. Among these patients, HER-2, pAkt, and aromatase-positivity were observed in 14 cases (66.6%), 13 cases (61.9%), and 14 cases (66.6%), respectively. On the basis of nuclear HR expression, 11 of these cases were categorized as ER-positive/PR-negative, while two were ER-negative/PR-positive. Of these 13 cases, increased pAkt staining was found in 11 cases (84.6%). In particular, among the 11 ER-positive/PR-negative cases, elevated pAkt and aromatase were found in 10 (90.9%; P<0.01) and nine cases (81.8%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:PR is expressed extranuclearly more frequently than ER in primary breast cancer, and extranuclear HRs cross-talk with the Akt/HER-2-signaling pathways and activation of aromatase. These observations may explain the more beneficial effects of aromatase inhibitors than tamoxifen for ER-positive/PR-negative patients.
Authors: Mark A Feitelson; Alla Arzumanyan; Rob J Kulathinal; Stacy W Blain; Randall F Holcombe; Jamal Mahajna; Maria Marino; Maria L Martinez-Chantar; Roman Nawroth; Isidro Sanchez-Garcia; Dipali Sharma; Neeraj K Saxena; Neetu Singh; Panagiotis J Vlachostergios; Shanchun Guo; Kanya Honoki; Hiromasa Fujii; Alexandros G Georgakilas; Alan Bilsland; Amedeo Amedei; Elena Niccolai; Amr Amin; S Salman Ashraf; Chandra S Boosani; Gunjan Guha; Maria Rosa Ciriolo; Katia Aquilano; Sophie Chen; Sulma I Mohammed; Asfar S Azmi; Dipita Bhakta; Dorota Halicka; W Nicol Keith; Somaira Nowsheen Journal: Semin Cancer Biol Date: 2015-04-17 Impact factor: 15.707
Authors: Zhuan Zhou; Joe X Qiao; Amit Shetty; George Wu; Yi Huang; Nancy E Davidson; Yong Wan Journal: Cell Mol Life Sci Date: 2014-04 Impact factor: 9.207