Expressions of p130Cas and FHIT, and Their Relationships with Prognostic Factors for Breast Carcinomas

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: BCAR1/p130Cas protein is the human homologue of rat p130Cas protein, and it is a docking protein involved in the intracellular signaling pathways. This protein also causes the proliferating human breast cancer cells to be resistant to antiestrogen drugs. The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) protein is presumed to have a tumor suppressor function in a number of human tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate expressions of p130Cas and FHIT in breast carcinomas and to evaluate their relationship with the clinicopathological prognostic factors. METHODS: A total of 93 cases of invasive breast carcinomas was retrospectively reviewed. The expressions of p130Cas and FHIT were examined by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: p130Cas expression was observed in all breast carcinomas p130Cas immunoreactivity was strongly positive in 39 cases (41.9%), moderately positive in 49 cases (52.7%) and weakly positive in 5 cases (5.4%) of 93 cases. It was statistically correlated with the p53 (p=0.035) and c-erbB-2 (p=0.024) expressions. The FHIT protein expression was markedly reduced or completely negative in 59 cases (63.4%), but it was not correlated with the clinicopathological prognostic factors. There was no significant correlation between p130Cas and FHIT expressions. CONCLUSIONS: This study seems to provide meager information on whether these proteins may be useful prognostic factors, and so this topic needs further study.