Increased levels of active c-Src distinguish invasive from in situ lobular lesions.
Breast Cancer Res
; 11(4): R45, 2009.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19583841
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Mounting molecular evidence suggests that invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is developing from in situ lesions, atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH), and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). However, little is known about the mechanisms promoting the progression of lobular breast cancer (LBC) to invasive disease. Here, we investigated whether c-Src kinase, an established inducer of invasive states, contributes to the progression from ALH/LCIS to ILC.METHODS:
Immunochemistry for c-Src and other cancer-related molecules was performed on archived tissue specimens from 57 LBC patients. Relative c-Src activity was estimated by comparing fluorescence intensity of ILC with that of adjacent ALH/LCIS and nonneoplastic epithelia after staining with an antibody against active c-Src. Expression of active c-Src was correlated with markers of invasion and malignancy and with relapse among LBC patients.RESULTS:
Levels of activated c-Src were increased in ILC relative to ALH/LCIS (1.63-fold +/- 0.24 SD) and nonneoplastic epithelia (1.47 +/- 0.18 SD). Increased c-Src levels correlated with the activation of c-Src downstream targets (Fak, Stat-3) and the expression of mesenchymal markers. ILC cells with activated c-Src co-expressed metastatic markers (Opn, Cxcr4) and included cells positive for the cancer stem cell marker Aldh1. A tendency for high c-Src levels (P = 0.072) was observed among the seven LBC patients with relapsed disease.CONCLUSIONS:
Our data indicate elevated c-Src activity in ILC relative to noninvasive neoplastic tissue. The associated molecular changes suggest that c-Src promotes LBC invasiveness by inducing an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Therefore, c-Src antagonists might counteract the acquisition of invasiveness during LBC progression. Inhibition of c-Src may also affect ILC cells thought to have a high metastatic potential and to be capable of initiating/maintaining tumor growth. Together with the possible association between high c-Src levels and disease recurrence, our findings encourage the evaluation of c-Src antagonists for the treatment of LBC.
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Neoplasias de la Mama
/
Carcinoma in Situ
/
Biomarcadores de Tumor
/
Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas pp60(c-src)
/
Carcinoma Lobular
/
Proteínas de Neoplasias
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Breast Cancer Res
Asunto de la revista:
NEOPLASIAS
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article