Premium
Angiopoietin‐2 expression in breast cancer correlates with lymph node invasion and short survival
Author(s) -
Sfiligoi Christian,
de Luca Annarita,
Cascone Ilaria,
Sorbello Valentina,
Fuso Luca,
Ponzone Riccardo,
Biglia Nicoletta,
Audero Enrica,
Arisio Riccardo,
Bussolino Federico,
Sismondi Piero,
De Bortoli Michele
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.10851
Subject(s) - breast cancer , lymph node , breast carcinoma , immunohistochemistry , pathology , oncology , cancer , medicine , survival analysis , metastasis , biology , cancer research
Angiogenic factors produced by tumor cells are essential for tumor growth and metastasis. In our study, the expression of Angiopoietin‐1 ( ANG1 ) and Angiopoietin‐2 ( ANG2 ) mRNA in archival human breast cancer tumor samples and in 6 breast cancer cell lines was investigated. Total RNA from biopsies of 38 breast cancer patients was extracted and ANG1 and ANG2 mRNA expression was measured by means of quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR (Taqman®). Matching data with available clinicopathologic and biochemical data revealed a significant association between ANG2 expression and axillary lymph node invasion. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis, by means of Kaplan‐Meier method and Cox's proportional hazards model, showed significant and independent association between ANG2 mRNA level and both disease‐free ( p < 0.0001) and overall survival ( p < 0.0003). An important fact is that, notwithstanding the small number of cases examined, this association was confirmed also in the group of lymph node‐negative patients (DFS, p < 0.003; OS, p < 0.020). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that Ang2 is expressed by both tumor cells and endothelial elements. Expression in tumor cells was confirmed by studying a panel of human breast carcinoma cell lines in culture by RT‐PCR. In ZR75.1 and T47D cells, expression of ANG2 mRNA was increased up to 10‐fold by treatment with estrogen within 24 hr. Although preliminary, these data suggest a possible role of ANG2 as a prognostic factor for primary breast cancer. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.