Open AccessActivation of rapid oestrogen signalling in aggressive human breast cancers
Author(s) -
Poulard Coralie,
Treilleux Isabelle,
Lavergne Emilie,
BouchekiouaBouzaghou Katia,
GoddardLéon Sophie,
Chabaud Sylvie,
Trédan Olivier,
Corbo Laura,
Le Romancer Muriel
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
embo molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.923
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1757-4684
pISSN - 1757-4676
DOI - 10.1002/emmm.201201615
Subject(s) - cancer research , breast cancer , effector , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , proto oncogene tyrosine protein kinase src , proximity ligation assay , biology , signal transduction , receptor , cancer , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract Oestrogen receptors can mediate rapid activation of cytoplasmic signalling cascades by recruiting Src and PI3K. However, the involvement of this pathway in breast cancer remains poorly defined. We have previously shown that methylation of ERα is required for the formation of the ERα/Src/PI3K complex and that ERα is hypermethylated in a subset of breast cancers. Here, we used Proximity Ligation Assay to demonstrate that this complex is present in the cytoplasm of breast cancer cell lines as well as formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tumours. Of particular interest, the analysis of 175 breast tumours showed that overexpression of this complex in a subset of breast tumours correlates to the activation of the downstream effector Akt. Survival analysis revealed that high expression of this complex is an independent marker of poor prognosis and associated with reduced disease‐free survival. Our data introduces the new concept that the rapid oestrogen pathway is operative in vivo . It also provides a rationale for patient stratification defined by the activation of this pathway and the identification of target therapies.