Abstract 1744: αB-crystallin as a novel marker of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

Abstract

αB-crystallin, the member of small heat shock protein, is known as an anti-apoptotic protein and is associated with aggressive tumor behavior. In addition, recent study revealed that αB-crystallin was overexpressed in a metastatic variant of the GI101A human breast carcinoma cell line. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether expression of αB-crystallin was associated with lymph node metastasis. And also we evaluated the relationship of expression of αB-crystallin and other established prognostic factors. Eighty two patients who underwent breast cancer surgery and chemotherapy at Hallym Sacred Heart hospital were enrolled. Expression of αB-crystallin was determined by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibody (SPA-222, Stressgen Biotech.) and graded as negative=0, weakly positive=1, moderately positive=2 and highly positive=3. Estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, cERB-2, lymphatic tumor emboli, histologic grades and other tumor markers were compared with αB-crystallin expression. Expression of αB-crystallin in breast cancer tissues was associated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.01), lymphatic tumor emboli (p<0.01), high nuclear grade (p=0.02) and triple negative status (p=0.02). Five of 6 visceral metastasis cases showed highly expression of αB-crystallin. Results of this study revealed a strong relationship between αB-crystallin and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. And also the expression of αB-crystallin significantly correlated with other breast tumor markers. We thought that αB-crystallin could be a novel marker of lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1744.