BACKGROUND: The transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling pathway has been shown to exert divergent effects and to cross-talk with estrogen pathways in mammary gland tumorigenesis. TGF signaling in early stage breast cancer was investigated by examining the expression of TGFbeta-1 and the signaling mediators pSmad2/3 and Smad4. Their association with oestrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as with clinical and pathological features was also analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one tumor specimens from surgically treated patients with primary T12,N0 breast cancer were examined. The expression of TGFbeta-1, pSmad2 and Smad4 was assessed implementing immunohistochemical assays. RESULTS: TGFbeta-I, pSmad2/3 and Smad4 were expressed in 50.9%, 74.0% and 61.0% of specimens, respectively. The degree of expression of the three molecules was significantly associated with each other. Loss of pSmad2/3 expression indicated a shorter disease-free survival in all patients, including those with oestrogen receptor-positive tumors. Patients not expressing TGFbeta-1 were 4.6 times more likely to experience distant recurrence. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that pSmad2/3 and TGFP-1 may be promising novel prognostic markers for T1.2,N0 breast carcinomas.
BACKGROUND: The transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling pathway has been shown to exert divergent effects and to cross-talk with estrogen pathways in mammary gland tumorigenesis. TGF signaling in early stage breast cancer was investigated by examining the expression of TGFbeta-1 and the signaling mediators pSmad2/3 and Smad4. Their association with oestrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as with clinical and pathological features was also analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one tumor specimens from surgically treated patients with primary T12,N0 breast cancer were examined. The expression of TGFbeta-1, pSmad2 and Smad4 was assessed implementing immunohistochemical assays. RESULTS:TGFbeta-I, pSmad2/3 and Smad4 were expressed in 50.9%, 74.0% and 61.0% of specimens, respectively. The degree of expression of the three molecules was significantly associated with each other. Loss of pSmad2/3 expression indicated a shorter disease-free survival in all patients, including those with oestrogen receptor-positive tumors. Patients not expressing TGFbeta-1 were 4.6 times more likely to experience distant recurrence. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that pSmad2/3 and TGFP-1 may be promising novel prognostic markers for T1.2,N0 breast carcinomas.
Authors: Martha L Slattery; Abbie Lundgreen; Marianna C Stern; Lisa Hines; Roger K Wolff; Anna R Giuliano; Kathy B Baumgartner; Esther M John Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2013-12-12 Impact factor: 2.506
Authors: Flavia R R Mangone; Fernando Walder; Simone Maistro; Fátima S Pasini; Carlos N Lehn; Marcos B Carvalho; M Mitzi Brentani; Igor Snitcovsky; Miriam H H Federico Journal: Mol Cancer Date: 2010-05-12 Impact factor: 27.401
Authors: Nan-nan Liu; Yue Xi; Michael U Callaghan; Andrew Fribley; Lakisha Moore-Smith; Jacquelyn W Zimmerman; Boris Pasche; Qinghua Zeng; Yu-lin Li Journal: Tumour Biol Date: 2013-08-24