Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancers are heterogeneous in their morphology, clinical course and response to therapy. New therapeutic targets are needed in breast cancer. The Met tyrosine kinase receptor activates cell proliferation, survival, invasion and angiogenesis and has found a strong relationship between high HGF/Met signaling and tumor progression. The biologic roles of androgen receptors (AR) in the breast are incompletely understood since it is unclear whether the effects of androgens on breast cells are predominantly proliferative or anti-proliferative. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of mesenchymal��?epithelial transition (MET) and AR expression in breast cancer patients with ER negative receptor. Method: Histologic sections from 60 cases of ER negative breast cancer including different subtypes and grades of breast cancer were evaluated using immunohistochemistry with androgen and Met then evaluated compared to ER, PR, HER-2, using a standard avidin��?biotin��?peroxidase system. Results: Out of the 60 breast cancers, 54 (90%) are positive for AR and 52 (86%) are positive for Met. There was a significant positive correlation between AR with tumor type, multicentricity and HER2 (P<0.005). Met scores were significantly increased in patients nodal stage, DCIS and HER2 (P<0.005). Conclusions: There is a significant correlation between the Met and AR scores and the clinicopathological prognostic parameters. The levels of AR and Met expression were relatively high as most studies stated. The activation of Met signaling pathway plays an important role in tumorgenesis of breast cancers and the patients might benefit from drug therapy targeting Met in cases showing expression of such receptor

Biography

Dalia M Abouelfadl has completed her MD at Cairo University and Postdoctoral studies at Westminster University School of Biomedical Sciences, London, UK. She is a member of Pathology department of Medical Division of National Research Center, a premier research organization. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.